Supplies to Nepal normalised to large extent: Govt

Supplies from India to Nepal, crippled for months due to the agitation by the Madhesi community, have “normalised to a large extent” as around 1,300 trucks are going to the Himalayan nation from here every day, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.

Foreign office spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Nepalese Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel will arrive here on February 7 on a two-day visit, during which he will hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Poudel will be here to discuss reconstruction projects in Nepal, Swarup said and expressed hope that concrete dates for Nepalese Prime Minister KP Oli’s visit to India will be finalised after that trip.

Asserting that the supplies have normalised to a “large extent”, he said: “Before the logjam started, 1,500 trucks used to go (to Nepal). Now about 1,300 trucks are going.” 

He said India welcomed the positive steps taken by Nepal to address the concerns of Madhesis. 

“Two constitutional amendments have been passed. We welcome those as good and positive steps,” Swarup said.