KATHMANDU, Oct 20: The Government of Nepal has accepted US$150 million (about Rs 20.12 billion) concessional loan assistance from the World Bank.
A Cabinet meeting held on Friday decided to form a negotiation team under the leadership of the joint secretary of the Ministry of Finance to negotiate an additional US$ 135 million loan assistance proposed for green, sustainable, and inclusive development.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung announced the decisions of the Cabinet meeting on Sunday and said that it has been decided to exempt the customs duty on goods received as grants for relief and reconstruction purposes to address the disaster incidents.
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Additionally, it has been decided to re-appoint Ashish Gajurel as the executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board.
Similarly, the government has given approval to survey the organization and management of quarantine offices under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Additionally, it has been decided to provide immediate relief to 71 local governments of 20 districts that were affected by the recent floods and landslides.
The other decisions include the approval to establish an immigration office at the Korala checkpoint in Mustang district, the approval to use national forest land in various areas of Taplejung for the construction of hydropower projects in Nepal, and the formation of a high-level study committee for civil cviation sector improvement.
Furthermore, the government decided to give the Government of Qatar a pair of elephants from Hattisar, Chitwan National Park. It was also decided to focus on improving Nepal’s civil aviation system.
