Rekha Shrestha

Kathmandu, February 27:

The Cabinet recently approved a proposal to acquire a forest land at Saljhandi and Rudrakchhya VDCs in Rupandhehi district for constructing an Integrated Army Training School of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA).

“The RNA will soon begin the mapping of about 16932.5 hectares (25,000 bighas) of land,” said an official at the Ministry of Defence (MoD). However, it is not known when the project, which is expected to cost over Rs 2 billion, will begin as it was planned to be constructed with an Indian grant. The Indian government, in the face of changed political context, has said ‘it is constantly reviewing the military aid being provided to Nepal’.

Meanwhile, after a two-year-long dispute, MoD has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Forest to acquire land for installing RNA’s Mid-Western Division Headquarters. “The Cabinet also passed the proposal to acquire about 600 hectares of land at Kohalpur of Banke from the Forest Development Project to install the Mid-Western Division Headquarters,” said the official, adding that the construction of infrastructure will begin soon.

Initial feasibility study on the Integrated Army Training School was carried out in March and the Indian officials were to inspect the proposed area for construction. Chief of the Army Staff General Pyar Jung Thapa had hammered the project deal during one of his visits to India. Apart from training school buildings, spacious sports complex, instructors’ quarters and a school for children will also be built. Besides providing commando training, the proposed school will also train new recruits, drivers and maintenance staffers.