The agreement was reached at a joint meeting of the administration and security chiefs of the bordering districts of the two counties on Friday at Bhedetar in Dhankuta district. [break]
The Indian side was led by DM Kumar Ravi of Supaul district of Bihar state and the Nepal side was represented by Chief District Officer of Sunsari Ram Prasad Thapaliya and CDO of Saptari, Ram Prasad Ghimire.
At the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen security and upgrade the maintenance quality of the barrage, CDO of Sunsari Ram Prasad Thapaliya said.
“The meeting focused on making the security arrangement and construction works effective and qualitative,” Thapaliya said.
Also, the meeting stated that the other reconstruction works besides the barrage has been “satisfactory.”
“The construction was considered satisfactory on the basis of reports presented by two sides,” Thapaliya added.
The meeting decided to strengthen field inspection around the barrage in the ongoing monsoon season, which will last till October 15.
Thapaliya informed it was also agreed that for this purpose a special team of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force will be mobilized round the clock.
Besides, the Indian side had brought up the issue of encroachment in the western side of Koshi barrage. In this regard the CDO of Saptari expressed serious concerns from the Nepali side as well.
The meeting also decided to widen the roads at the eastern and western sides of the barrage. In addition, the two sides also agreed to minimize the misunderstandings in the Koshi project emanating from lack of proper coordination.
DM Kumar Ravi said, “Besides discussing the security of the barrage area, we have also highlighted the issue of security of our technical officers.”
The next meeting is likely to be held in Bihar next month.
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