Prachanda's assurance on controlled water discharge positive: Nitish

New Delhi, Sep 16 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said Nepalese Prime Minister Pushp Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda's' statement about controlled discharge of water by developing hydel power projects in the neighbouring country would solve the state's problem of recurring floods in the Kosi river which caused devastation.

He said Mr Prachanda's statement that in next ten years, Nepal will produce ten thousand megawatt through different hydel projects, is quite appreciable. Although Mr Prachanda did not say anything on Kosi, but his utterances on the controlled discharge of water due to different hydel projects, is the indication of solution to the state's problems.

Mr Prachanda said he had a positive talk with Indian government on the water management. The Nepalese territories will not be allowed to be used against anyone, he said and added that the production of ten thousand megawatt of hydel power would automatically solve the water problem.

Both the leaders were speaking at a lunch organised by the Indo-Nepal Parliamentary Forum's President Sharad Yadav to welcome the Nepalese Prime Minister. Regarding the relief work on the side of Nepal, he said if the Indian government permits him, he was ready to start the relief work on the other side of the fence.

Prachanda said in his struggle for ten years, he was underground for 8 years in India and was studying here.

''I have emerged as the first elected Prime Minister of the new republic of Nepal. I for the first time talked to the Indian Prime Minister on September 15, 2008 and it has unveiled a new era. The years old traditional relationship between India and Nepal has to be strengthened further,'' said Mr Prachanda.

He also said an East-West rail project would be developed in Nepal in which India's cooperation will be needed.

The Nepalese Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, former Prime Minister IK Gujral, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Civil Aviation Minister Prafful Patel, former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh, Mr Shanti Bhushan, Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr Devendra Prasad. Yadav and DP Tripathi were among those present at the occasion.

UNI AJ AE KN2027