Himalayan News Service Kathmandu, October 1:

Nepal and India have agreed to form Pancheswor Development Authority in a bid to expedite the implementation of the 5,600 MW project. Both the countries signed a 29-point agreement today that culminated the two-day bilateral talks on water resources. Water secretary Shankar Prasad Koirala told journalists that India would construct 12-km Brahmadev-Mahendranagar Road. The southern neighbour would also complete the repair of the Saptakoshi embankments by next March. Usually, the flow of the river is bare minimum around that time of the year.

New Delhi will carry out the feasibility study of 250 MW Naumure project in three months. "The Indian team will explore irrigation possibility in Kapilvastu district during the course of the feasibility study," Koirala said. "This time around, we have made substantial progress on all the projects. However, timely implementation holds the key," said Shital Regmi, joint secretary, Ministry for Water Resources.

The problem of the Saptakoshi figured prominently during the talks. "Experts from both countries will meet in November to discuss the technical aspects of the breached embankments. The compensation issue did not come up during the meeting. However, it may be raised once we make a fair assessment of the damage caused due to floods," said the water secretary. In fact, the compensation is an integral part of the Koshi agreement.

The deadline for the study of the Sunkoshi-Kamala diversion project has been extended by a year. India will build an unregulated opening at Laxmanpur to tackle the inundation menace. India has also agreed not to construct any structure around Mahalisagar for the time being. India will take immediate precautionary measures to control inundation in Nawalparasi district. Both countries will build embankments on Mechi river.

Indian water secretary Umesh Narayan Panjiar, who led the delegation, expressed happiness about the "positive outcome of the talks". The next joint meeting will be held in Varanasi on February 9. A win-win pact

•Pancheswor Development Authority to be formed to expedite implementation of the 5,600 MW project
•India to repair Saptakoshi embankments by next March
•Experts from both countries to meet in November to discuss technical aspects of the breached embankments
•New Delhi to carry out feasibility study of 250 MW Naumure project on the west Rapti river in three months
•Deadline for the study of Sunkoshi-Kamala diversion project extended by a year
•India to build an unregulated opening at Laxmanpur to tackle inundation menace and not to construct any structure around Mahalisagar for now
•India to take immediate precautionary measures to control inundation in Nawalparasi district
•Embankments to be build on Mechi river

Source: The Himalayan Times, 02 October, 2008

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