Nepal-India Joint Statement

Kathmandu, Feb. 16:The first meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources (JMCWR) held in New Delhi has ended with a 10-point agreement on cooperation of water resources.Both sides also agreed to accelerate the setting up of the Pancheshwar Development Authority (PDA) at the earliest for implementation of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.

The first Meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources was held in New Delhi . The meeting was jointly led by Union Minister of Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of Energy of Nepal Shri Posta Bahadur Bogati and Minister of Irrigation of Nepal Shri Mahendra Prasad Yadav. Union Minister of State for Water Resources and Minority Affairs Shri Vincent H. Pala, Minister of Water Resources Department of Bihar Shri Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, senior officers of the Government of India, State Governments of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal were present in the meeting.

The following is the Joint Press Statement issued at the end of the meeting and read by Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal in a joint press conference along with the visiting Ministers from Nepal Shri Bogati and Shri Yadav, Union Minister of State for Water Resources and Minority Affairs Shri Pala and Minister of Water Resources Department of Bihar Shri Chaudhary:

“The first Meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources (JMCWR) jointly led by the Hon’ble Minister (Water Resources), Government of India, Hon’ble Minister (Energy) and Hon’ble Minister (Irrigation), Government of Nepal, was held on 15th February, 2012 at New Delhi. During the meeting, issues related to cooperation in water resources were discussed.

2. Both sides agreed to expedite the setting up of Pancheshwar Development Authority (PDA) at the earliest for implementation of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.

3. Both sides also agreed to expedite the completion of DPR of Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage cum Diversion Scheme by February 2013. JMCWR decided to strengthen the Joint Project Office adequately for this purpose.

4. JMCWR noted the difficulties being faced in carrying out various works of Kosi and Gandak Projects and the efforts being made to address the same. JMCWR also noted the concerns of Nepal side regarding payment of compensation for land and damage of crops. JMCWR directed the Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) to look into these problems.

5. JMCWR considered examining the possibility of facilitating duty free movement of materials and equipment to Nepal for the repair and maintenance works under Gandak Project through appropriate arrangement.

6. JMCWR noted with satisfaction the excellent cooperation between the two countries in flood management and the need to take up other trans-boundary rivers causing flood and inundation in both countries.

7. JMCWR recommended that the maintenance of 15 Km length of eastern Kosi embankment presently being maintained by the Government of Nepal, may also be taken up by the Government of India.

8. JMCWR noted with satisfaction that the Share Holders’ Agreement for the Nepal portion of the 400 kV Muzaffarpur- Dhalkebar line is being expedited by Nepal. The Commission further noted that the short- term strengthening scheme to facilitate import of 75 MW additional power by Nepal over the existing transmission links is under implementation and would be completed progressively in the next six months. The Commission also agreed to explore the possibility of expediting the strengthening work for export of some quantum of power to Nepal at the earliest. Further, the Commission agreed to expedite the process for implementation of medium-term strengthening works for additional power supply to Nepal.

9. JMCWR recommended that the finalization of the Draft Memorandum of Understanding on Cross Border Interconnection for Electric Power Trade Agreement received from Government of Nepal including a second cross border transmission line for joint development be expedited.

10. Other issues of mutual interest including irrigation, flood, etc., were discussed. JMCWR expressed satisfaction that experts from both sides were mutually resolving these issues in various mechanisms.

11. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the meeting.”