Nepal's Unified Marxist Leninist party for new Koshi accord

Kathmandu, Sept 11 : The Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) party of Nepal has officially demanded a new agreement with India to replace the 54-year-old Koshi Agreement.

UML General Secretary Jhala Nath Khanal said that a new agreement should be reached on an qual footing based on the principle of mutual benefit.

"The government of India should pay annual royalty to Nepal government for using the bridge built on Nepali territory, for making use of water from Nepal, and for using Nepali land, he said.

"Nepal government should have control over the bridge, barrage and Nepali territory," he added.

UML leaders have suggested that the government should establish an office at Chatara to look after matters relating to the Koshi. Nepal government should take over managerial control of Koshi barrage including its supervision, repair and maintenance and monitoring work from the office itself.

The leaders also held India responsible for the recent havoc caused by Koshi floods. "India is also responsible for looking after the embankment and Nepali territory given to it on a 199-year lease. But, Nepali people and the country incurred loss worth billions of rupees as the government of India did not fulfill its responsibility," they said, Kantipur reported.

ANI