UP proposes hydro power projects in Nepal

Lucknow Aug 7: The Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh has once again proposed two mega hydro-power project in Nepal near the Indo- Nepal border to prevent annual menance of floods in UP and Bihar during monsoons.

UP government has proposed to the Centre to convince the Nepal government to construct two dams, one at Pacheshwar on the Mahakali-Sharda river and another at Karnali on river Ghagra.

A formal demand on the project would be made before Prime minister Manmohan Singh when he along with a high-level team visits UP to review the agricultural growth later this month.

A high-level sources told UNI here today that as the political situation in Nepal has turned in favour of India, now the Centre should impress upon them to allow constructing the dams which will also restrict to some extent the Maoist activities there.

''Centre should try a new beginning with the Nepal government and international financial aid should be sought for the mega project'', the UP government has suggested.

''Chief minister Mayawati will also personnally apprise the PM about the annual reoccurance of floods in the Eastern parts of the state along with Bihar and the only remedial measure would be to construct dams in the Nepal side,'' sources said.

According to the proposal drafted by the UP government, a 6000 mw hydro-power should be constructed at Pancheshwar while at Karnali it can be about 10,000 mw.

In September-October, 2004, India and Nepal held a series of meeting to finalise the Detailed Project Report of the Pancheshwar dam on the Mahakali-Sharda river on the border of the two countries.

The meeting,initiated during the visit of the then Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba, however, did not yeild any fruitful results.

On the other hand the Centre had discussed with Nepal at various levels for co-operation in the field relating to Water Resources Development after a Treaty on Integrated Development of Mahakali River had been signed between India and Nepal in February1996, which came into force in June, 1997 (Mahakali Treaty).

Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project on river Mahakali which is known as river Sarda in India, is the centerpiece of Mahakali Treaty.

India-Nepal Joint Group of Experts (JGE) has been overseeing the physical and financial progress with respect to finalisation of Joint Detailed Project Report (J-DPR) of Pancheswar Multipurpose Project. All the related field investigations have been completed and detailed Project report is to be finalised after resolving the pending issues, which are under discussion with Nepal.

The project will have power and irrigation benefits besides incidental benefits of flood moderation.

Earlier agreement has also been reached with Nepal to take up the joint field investigations, studies and preparation of Detailed Project Report of Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme. A Joint Project Office was opened in August, 2004 in Nepal for undertaking the above work.

For dealing with the problems of inadvertent inundation caused by the construction of various works on the border rivers between India and Nepal, a Standing Committee on Inundation Problems (SCIP) between India and Nepal is also functioning since 1986 with a view to identity the problem areas and suggest possible solutions on a continuing basis.

In order to have interaction at higher level pertaining to the co-operation in the field of water resources, including implementation of various agreements and understandings, a Nepal-India Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) headed by Water Resources Secretaries of both the countries is functioning with the mandate to act as an Umbrella Committee over all other committees and groups.

UNI