He was speaking at an interaction program organized by Reporters´ Club in the capital on Saturday,
Spokesperson of the Nepali Congress Dilendra Prasad Badu said that India´s National Hydro-power Corporation (NHPC), a government undertaking, had unilaterally constructed a dam in violation of international treaties. “Before constructing the dam at Dhauliganga near the border with Darchula, India should have sought consensus with Nepal as well”, Badu said.
Badu alleged that the flood occured due to heavy release of water from Dhauliganga Dam. “The government should declare Darchula district a disaster area,” he added.
Minister Panta, however, said, “Allegations that India is responsible for the damage in Darchula are not entirely correct, and even the neighboring Indian state of Uttrakhand was also badly hit." India had seen more damage than Nepal, Panta said, adding that the government had already taken initiatives to rescue the flood hit people and was going to provide the required relief package.
Panta said the issue should not be politicized. “We are talking to the Government of India for rescuing Nepali pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand and they have assured us that the pilgrims will soon reach Nepal,” Panta added. “The government is currently in negotiations with the Indians to form a joint committee to find out the cause of the flood,” he maintained.
Central member of CPN-UML Bhim Rawal said that the Rs. 35,000 allocated by the government for each flood-affected family was not enough. “The government should provide at least Rs. 200,000,” he said. He accused the government of not being serious about the victims.
Rawal said that the heavy flooding was caused by India´s ill intentions. “India should bear the compensation cost,” he said.
Central member of UCPN (Maoist) Lek Raj Bhatta also maintained that the Dhauliganga dam project in India violated international treaties. “It is due to the Dhauliganga Dam Project that Darchula witnessed the terrifying flood,” Bhatta argued. He said the Darchula flood was not simply a flood; rather it was an attack on national integrity.
Bhatta said the Mahakali Treaty between Nepal and India was completely faulty. He stressed that Nepal and India should hold talks for limiting flood damage.
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