September 01, 2001

KATHMANDU: The Japanese embassy Tuesday gave the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) a grant of $ 33,450 equivalent to Rs.2.49 million for the conservation of the area around Mount Manaslu.

The grant will be used to construct seven drinking water systems and seven community toilets in the mountainous region, the embassy said. The Manaslu region was declared a conservation area by the government in 1998.

Ambassaddor Mitsuaki Kojima and Member Secretary of the KMTNC Jai Pratap Rana signed the grant contract. King Gyanendra is the patron of the Trust.

Japanese have a fond remembrance of the area because the 8000 meters plus Mount Manaslu was the first eight thousander peak climbed by them in Nepal.