Nepal PM to meet Modi over rehab plan

Kathmandu: Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala is likely to visit India next month to meet his counterpart Narendra Modi to discuss a long-term plan for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the earthquake-ravaged Himalayan nation.

Nepal Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has also got an invitation from his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley. "Our prime minister is likely to visit India next month," Mahat said.

Mahat said both the prime ministers have been in regular touch since the devastating earthquake of April 25 killed over 8,000 people, injured thousands and caused widespread destruction. "We got good support and help from India. In fact, India was the first country to come to the rescue of our people and extend logistic support. We owe it our gratitude," he said.

This will be Koirala's first foreign visit since the temblor that has damaged over one million private and public buildings. He has been facing criticism for returning home from Indonesia two days after the devastating earthquake. Mahat said Nepal, which saw five percent growth in 2014, needed immense money to rebuild houses, tens of thousands of schools, dispensaries, government offices as well as roads and bridges. "We are assessing the total damage to life and property. We immediately require $2 billion for rehabilitation. The government has made a provision of 10 percent (out of $2 billion) from its own resources. The total estimated damage could be $5-10 billion."

The assessment work is likely to be completed in one month.

Nepal, whose annual budget is around $7 billion, will hold an international donors' conference in Kathmandu next month or in July to seek financial assistance.