KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has assured visiting Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Vice President Jonathan Brooks that the MCC project will be completed within the stipulated time.
Vice President Brooks, who is currently in Nepal, along with the team under his leadership, held formal discussions at the Ministry on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Minister Pun informed that the government is committed to completing the MCC project within the predetermined timeframe.
He highlighted the necessary cooperation and coordination from the ministry’s side to ensure timely completion of the project.
“The government remains committed to completing the MCC Compact projects on time, and that commitment persists,” he stated.
Minister Pun assured that issues such as land acquisition for project implementation and resolving forest area usage concerns would be addressed under the MCC Nepal program.
On the occasion, Vice President Brooks briefed about the progress made in the construction of electricity transmission lines and roads under the MCC project.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project so far.
Under the MCC agreement worth around Rs 60 billion, 315 kilometers of long electricity transmission lines and 77 kilometers of roads will be constructed within five years.
Out of the total budget, MCC will provide Rs 45 billion in grants, while the Nepali government will invest Rs 15 billion from its side.
The project aims to construct a transmission line extending from Butwal to Gorakhpur in India.
Additionally, a 315-kilometer double-circuit 400 kV transmission line will be constructed.
Although the agreement between Nepal and the US government regarding the MCC was signed in 2017, the project’s implementation commenced only after the Nepali Parliament approved the agreement two years ago.
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