KATHMANDU, March 22: Minister for Urban Development of Nepal Dhan Bahadur Budha, and Naveen Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Nepal, jointly inaugurated a new building of Shree Jestha Varna Mahavihar in Lalitpur.

The project, funded under India's post-earthquake reconstruction grant, marks a key partnership between the two nations in preserving Nepal's cultural heritage, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

The inauguration ceremony held on Friday was attended by Buddhiraj Bajracharya, president of Lalitpur Development Society, local community representatives, officials from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the project management consultants (PMC), and government officials from both Nepal and India.

Shree Jestha Varna Mahavihar, damaged during the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, has been reconstructed with a grant assistance of NPR 13.78 crore. The Central Level Project Implementation Unit (CLPIU–Building and Housing), DUDBC under the Government of Nepal, managed the project's implementation.

During the ceremony, Minister Budha commended India's support for post-earthquake reconstruction and its contributions to Nepal's economic development. Ambassador Srivastava emphasized the strong ongoing development cooperation between India and Nepal, particularly in preserving cultural heritage.

The collaboration reflects the historic cultural ties and shared commitment to preserving heritage for future generations, added the statement issued by the Indian Embassy. India has expressed commitment to conserving 28 cultural heritage sites across seven districts in Nepal, alongside supporting the reconstruction of private houses, educational institutions, and health facilities in earthquake-affected areas.

 
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