Letter of Memorandum to Prime Minister Prachanda Urging Him not to Sign Any Treaty or Agreement with India without Preparation

On 12 September 2008, Kathmandu-based Water & Energy Users' Federation-Nepal (WAFED) has submitted a letter of memorandum to Honourable Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' urging him not to sign any treaty or agreement with India during his visit without proper homework, public consultation and national consensus. The Prime Minister is set to make his first visit to India on 14 September this week. WAFED delegation has further urged the Prime Minister to discuss with India about the need of the review of all existing unjust and unequal treaties and agreements for a new start in Nepal-India relations.

WAFED is fearful of India as it may exert pressure on PM Prachanda for the implementation of controversial and destructive Koshi High Dam and Pancheswor-Purnagiri dams and other projects during his visit. Therefore, WAFED has urged the PM Prachanda not to fall into any such traps and but express our deep concerns over India's unilateral Inter-Linking of Rivers Project in which all of Nepal's rivers made an integral part of it without any consultation to us let alone the approval. WAFED has also urged the PM to persuade India to provide proper compensation and remuneration for the recent Koshi flood victims with the huge loss of the human lives and their property. The Koshi disaster has been the result of the poor maintenance of the five decade-long barrage by India that broke last August and caused one of the biggest human-made tragedies in the region in recent decades.

WAFED also raised the issue of the loss of Nepal's basic co-riparian right under the existing Gandak and Mahakali treaties, and has urged the PM to enter into negotiations for reclaiming such right before the implementation of any projects in the future or before the signing of any new treaty with India relating to water resources. It has also demanded for a consultation process with Nepal's experts, activists and the public in general before any such deals are planned with India now or in the future.

WAFED has furtrher requested the Prime Minister to also discuss with India the need of full review or the repeal the so called 1950 Nepal-India Treaty on Peace and Friendship. The PM is also reminded of the issues to be resolved with India relating to the unilateral construction of series of embankments on the other side of the Nepal-India border causing floods and damages in Nepal, and also the illegal occupation of our Kalapani land and the installation of India army there even today. WAFED also has raised to problem of India's encroachment of Nepali land in over 60 places in different parts of Nepal.

Further, WAFED has warned the PM to be careful about the trap that India may create to promote Bhutanese model of water resource development which to build dams in Nepal and export electricity to India in cheaper price. WAFED says, Nepal needs electricity first for its own purpose for rural electrification and industrialisation, and export surplus electricity to India only if there is a better deal to be established through a permanent and comprehensive power purchase agreement if it is ever done.

The WAFED delegation composed of its Chairperson Ram Chandra Chataut, Co-ordinator Ratan Bhandari, Campaign Officer Khima Ram Lamsal and others urged the PM to limit his visit as a goodwill one and avoid any mistakes that the past rulers of Nepal have had done against the national interest of the people of Nepal.

Ratan Bhandari
Co-ordinator
9841485815

Some photos