KATHMANDU, Aug 26: Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) has decided to distribute new fire trucks to 17 different municipalities.
As per MoFALD's plan, the new fire trucks, which were gifted by the Government of India on Wednesday, will be distributed to the municipalities in various parts of the country. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae had handed over the fire trucks worth Rs 70.21 million to the MoFALD Minister Hitraj Pandey during a function.
“We have decided to distribute the India-gifted fire trucks to 17 municipalities based on necessity,” spokesperson at the MoFALD Purna Chandra Bhattarai told Republica.
“Not all municipalities in the country can operate and maintain fire trucks,” he said. “So, we are planning to distribute them in a way that multiple municipalities can use it.”
According to the ministry, out of total 217 municipalities across the country, 71 had already been provided with fire engines. And now the government plans to equip 51 more municipalities with fire trucks. “We have already received 17 from the Indian government and our own government is buying additional 34 on its own. Within this fiscal year, 122 municipalities will have fire trucks,” read a statement issued by the ministry on Wednesday.
Bhattarai said the ministry has allocated Rs 6 million for each of the 34 municipalities for the purpose.
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