Kathmandu: In a commendable initiative under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), the Japanese government has provided a total of 12 recycled fire engines to five provinces in Nepal, namely Koshi, Lumbini, Madhesh, Bagmati, and Gandaki.
The signing ceremony for the GGP contracts took place at the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu, where Ambassador Kikuta Yutaka signed two grant contracts. According to a press release issued by the Japan Embassy, the first contract with Dhana Lama, Executive Director of United Mission to Nepal (UMN), involves the provision of six recycled fire engines to municipalities in Okhaldhunga, Palpa, Parasi, and Kapilbastu districts in Koshi and Lumbini Provinces, with a grant totaling USD 259,035.
The second GGP contract with Deepak Chapagain, President of Volunteer Corps Nepal (VCN), aims to provide six recycled fire engines to municipalities in Sarlahi, Sindhupalchok, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Syangja districts in Madhesh, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces, with a grant amounting to USD 282,614.
The press release highlighted the scarcity of fire engines in Nepalese municipalities, prompting the Japanese government’s decision to support this project through UMN and VCN, both with a strong history of service in Nepal.
The fire engines, which have been diligently operated and maintained in Japan, are expected to play a vital role in safeguarding communities in Nepal during their second life. The Embassy of Japan expressed confidence that these projects will enhance the safety of the people in the 12 municipalities and foster stronger people-to-people friendship between Japan and Nepal.