Nepal, India to expand water resources’ cooperation

Nepal and India have agreed to expand and upgrade an international transmission line for facilitating power exchange and move forward on joint cooperation on water resources. This was decided at a two-day meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) which concluded here on Friday. During the discussions, the two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues including implementation of the Mahakali Treaty, 6,500 MW Pancheshwor Project, 3,000 MW Saptakoshi Multipurpose Project and Naumure Project, works relating to Kosi and Gandak projects and flood control on border rivers, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Energy here. The seventh JCWR meeting was held in a cordial manner and it was very positive, said Sri Ranjan Lakol, spokesman in the Ministry of Energy. During the meeting Nepalese side raised the issue relating to compensation to the Kosi flood victims and both the sides agreed to settle the issue through Joint Committee on Kosi and Gandak Project. They have also agreed to speed up works relating to construction of embankments on West Rapt, Khando, Lakhandehi rivers with Indian assistance. They have also agreed to expand and upgrade an international transmission line between Nepal and India for facilitating power exchange, establishing Pancheshwor Development Authority and setting up of an energy bank.