KATHMANDU, July 19: Nepal and India have agreed to address the difficulties faced by various Indian-funded projects in Nepal to ensure their timely completion.

A sixth joint meeting of Nepal-India Oversight Mechanism held in Kathmandu on Wednesday reached the agreement after holding discussion in detail about the implementation of various ongoing projects in Nepal.

“Both sides discussed measures to be undertaken by the respective governments and agencies to expedite project implementation and their early completion within specified time frame,” said a press statement issued by Indian embassy in Kathmandu.

The meeting co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Indian ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri held discussion on difficulties faced by various India-funded projects including cross-border railroad projects, integrated check posts, tarai roads projects, cross-border transmission lines and Arun III hydropower projects.

In many of the ongoing bilateral projects, land acquisition has stood as the major problem. Many legal hassles have also been creating problems in implementing the projects.

While expressing commitment to extend all necessary facilitation to ensure smooth execution of the projects within the specified timeframe, the two sides agreed to expeditiously address the problem faced by the implementing agencies, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

The oversight mechanism comprises foreign secretary from the Nepali side and sitting Indian ambassador to Nepal from the Indian side as co-chairs. The mechanism is entrusted with the responsibility to oversee the implementation of various ongoing bilateral projects.

The first meeting of the mechanism was held on November 29, 2016 in pursuant to the September 2016 direction of the two prime ministers during the visit of the then Nepali prime minister to India. The 7th meeting of the mechanism will take place on a mutually convenient time.

While regular joint meeting of Nepal and India on various sectors are taking place on a regular basis, the problems seen in the implementation of the projects are being addressed by higher-level mechanisms including those led by the foreign secretaries and the foreign ministers.

 
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