Nepal wants Koshi agreement to be updated

Kathmandu, Sep 8 : Nepal's Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara has said that Nepal and India should jointly look into the Koshi agreement and update it.

Addressing a programme on Nepal-India relations here on Sunday Mahara said that it is useless to resort to blame-game over the recent flooding in Saptakoshi river.

"Both the countries are bound by the agreement that was signed at one time. But now, there has to be an objective analysis and review of the Koshi agreement. It should be looked into and updated by both the countries for the benefit of both the peoples," he added.

He said the historic, scientific and technical aspects of the agreement should be jointly studied.

During the programme, visiting Indian lawmakers said that the bilateral relation between Nepal and India should be further improved by sorting out suspicion and doubt.

The Indian delegation led by K Keshav Rao comprises five lawmakers from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

The Kosi agreement was signed between India and Nepal in 1954, which was later reviewed in 1966. According to the agreement, Indian government is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the 1100 metres Kosi barrage, Nepalnews reported.

ANI