KATHMANDU, MARCH 11
The Japan government has provided a total of 12 recycled fire engines to the five provinces, Koshi, Lumbini, Madhesh, Bagmati, and Gandaki, under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Government of Japan, on Monday.
Kikuta Yutaka, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, signed two grant contracts amidst the special signing ceremony held at the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu today.
Issuing a press release, Japan Embassy said that the GGP contract with Dhana Lama, Executive Director of United Mission to Nepal (UMN), was signed to provide six recycled fire engines to six municipalities, namely 1) Khijidemba Rural Municipality of Okhaldhunga District in Koshi Province, 2) Tansen Municipality, 3) Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality of Palpa District, 4) Sunwal Municipality, 5) Pratapapur Rural Municipality of Parasi District, and 6) Mayadevi Rural Municipality of Kapilbastu District in Lumbini Province with a grant of USD 259,035.
Similarly, the other GGP contract with Deepak Chapagain, President of Volunteer Corps Nepal (VCN), is to provide six recycled fire engines to 7) Barahathawa Municipality, 8) Chakraghatta Rural Municipality of Sarlahi District in Madhesh Province, 9) Bahrabise Municipality of Sindhupalchok District, 10) Kageshwori Manohara Municipality of Kathmandu District, 11) Godawari Municipality of Lalitpur District in Bagmati Province, and 12) Walling Municipality of Syangja District in Gandaki Province with a grant of USD 282,614, the release added.
"In Nepal, only a few municipalities own fire engines. Considering this situation, the Japanese government decided to support 12 recycled fire engines through UMN, which is one of the oldest NGOs serving the society for 70 years, and VCN, which continues to specialize in disaster relief including fire."
The fire engines to be provided by the projects have been faithfully operated and maintained throughout Japan. These fire engines will play an active role in protecting the communities in Nepal as their second life, Japan embassy said.
The Embassy of Japan believes that these projects will contribute to the safety of the people in the 12 municipalities and their surrounding areas against fire incidents. We hope that the assistance from the people and the Government of Japan will further strengthen the people-to-people friendship between Japan and Nepal, it added.
