Nepal agrees upon a 3-Tier joint mechanism for water management

New Delhi, Sep 16 (UNI) Nepal Water Resources Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel called on his Indian counterpart Prof Saifuddin Soz alongwith a team of water experts and officers here today.

Addressing the Nepali delegation, Prof Soz assured him of full cooperation of Indian Government in the common endeavour to tackle various problems in the water management for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

Both sides have agreed on a 3-tier joint mechanism for water management with setting up of Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) at the level of Ministers, Joint Committee on Water Resources at the Secretaries level and eight project-wise technical committees.

Earlier, both the ministers held a detailed review of various water resources projects. They agreed that the field work of Saptkosi High Dam Project should be expedited to complete the Detailed Project Report (DPR) early. Mr Poudel has assured that the Nepal Government would provide necessary cooperation including security to the field staff to complete the task in the minimum possible time.

Discussions were held on the Pancheshwar Multi-Purpose Project.

Mr Poudel requested that the work on this project, which has already been delayed by quite some time, should be expedited in the spirit of Mahakali Treaty-1996.

Explaining the importance of the visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal Mr Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and his delegation to India, Prof Soz emphasized that the discussions at the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's level has been spectacularly successful and a new era of mutual cooperation and trust has ushered in, particularly in the water management sector.

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