Officials from the two countries reached the agreement during the fourth meeting of the Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) held in New Delhi from the 12th to 13th March. The talks were headed by each country’s water ministry secretary.
The Standing Committee on Inundation Problem (SCIP), High Level Technical Committee (HLTC) and Joint Committee on Flood Management (JCFM), among other bodies, are already functioning under the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR).
"The JCIFM will oversee the works done by other bilateral committees including SCIP, HLTC and JCFM, among other bodies," said the statement issued by the MoWR on Sunday. Ministry officials issued the statement after returning to Nepal from New Delhi.
The officials said construction works, repair and the strengthening of embankments, spurs and other structures ravaged by the Koshi River floods in Sunsari district last year will be completed before June.
During the talks, Indian officials had asked for additional information about the West Seti (Naumure) hydro project. "The study on the project will be completed within 15 days after Nepal provides the additional information to the Indian side," it said.
The Indian side agreed to start repairs of the main west channel in the Gandak Project Area immediately as per demands raised at the local level. The statement said a joint committee meeting on Koshi Gandak Project will be held soon.
According to bilateral agreements, the entire responsibility of operation and maintenance of the Koshi Barrage and embankment in the Koshi area and Gandak Barrage in Nawalparasi falls on India.
They have decided to conduct further studies of the areas affected by construction work carried out by India in Mahalisagar, Kapilvastu district.
In earlier JCWR meetings which concluded on October 1 in Kathmandu, the Indian side had reassured Nepal it would shun construction of new structures along the border which have been causing inundation problems in bordering areas of Nepal every year.
The officials agreed to complete the proposal on the Rasiyawal-Khurdalotan inundation problem and to submit it to the Joint Standing Technical Committee (JSTC).
The two sides agreed to finalize the jurisdiction and work plans of the Pancheshwar Development Authority at its next meeting. The Authority to be co-chaired by water resources secretaries of Nepal and India, will develop, execute and operate the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.
During Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to India last year, the two governments instructed the water resource ministries of both countries to expedite work on the project. A treaty was signed between India and Nepal in 1996 for the 5,600 MW multi-purpose Pancheswar project.
They agreed on work plans and terms of reference of the newly-formed bilateral ministerial level joint commission. Representatives from the two countries also decided to jointly construct an embankment along the Mechi River.
The two sides signed a 14-point agreement in the fourth JCWR meeting.
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