Kathmandu, October 26:

The Embassy of India today signed two separate Memoranda of Understanding with Mustang District Development Committee (DDC) and Muktinath Development Committee for providing grant assistance of Rs 30 million for the construction of a Dharmashala at Muktinath and another one with Mustang DDC and Shree Jana Shanti Secondary School, Kagbeni, for providing grant assistance of six million rupees for the construction of the school’s library building and provision of books and furniture.

The embassy, in a press release, said that Mustang is a ‘symbol’ of age-old cultural bonds between India and Nepal, and of significant importance for followers of many religions. “Pilgrims visiting the temple provide an important base for the VDC’s local economy. “

“The new infrastructure to be constructed with the Indian assistance will be managed by the Muktinath Development Committee and have a capacity of 56 beds with separate spaces for office, reception, meditation hall, kitchen, cafeteria, dining hall, a guard-house and furniture,” the release said. The projects will be implemented by Mustang DDC and will have separate oversight committees comprising representatives from the respective beneficiary organisations, DDC and local administration “to oversee the projects for their effective and timely implementation.”

These are among five developmental projects undertaken by the Government of India in Mustang and form part of over 265 large and small projects currently being implemented under the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme in the sectors of education, health, community development and infrastructure covering all districts of Nepal with an outlay of over Rs 21 billion.