JICA commits Rs 13 crore towards earthquake restoration

GANGTOK, 23 Jan: The State Forest Department has received formal approval from Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] for funds of Rs 13.12 crore to restore damage suffered by departmental infrastructure in the 18 September earthquake.
With JICA’s approval confirmed on 12 Jan, the Forest Department has pulled out its application seeking a similar fund from the Union Government for repairing earthquake damaged infrastructures, said Forest Secretary, ST Lachungpa in a press conference today.
Mr Lachungpa said that in the aftermath of the 18 September earthquake a detailed project report on restoration and renovation of departmental infrastructure damaged was prepared and submitted to JICA for funds. The restoration works are likely to commence by February, added Mr Lachungpa.
Additional PCCF and JICA assisted Sikkim Biodiversity and Forest Management Project Director, Anil Mainra informed that since major restoration works will be taken under JICA funding, the Union Government has expressed its willingness to fund the left over works under Integrated Forest Management System.
Two representatives of JICA will be visiting Sikkim on 30 Jan for a five-day trip during which they will assess the damages and funding estimated in our report, said Mr Mainra.
Mr Mainra further informed that the earthquake restoration fund of Rs 13.12 crore will come from the JICA project he explained that the JICA funding is done in the Japanese Yen which currently has a strong value in Indian currency. This fluctuation of rates in Yen and Indian Rupee and the profit derived through this has increased the total JICA funding for the project by 10-15%.