During the joint-secretarial level bilateral talks that concluded in Kathmandu on Friday, the Nepali side had informed that a feasibility study of the high voltage cross-border transmission line would be conducted under financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank. [break]
Nepal has already sent a concept paper to India on the transmission line as directed by 7th Nepal-India Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR).
According to the minutes of JSTC meeting, Nepali officials had enquired about the electricity power trade and energy banking with their Indian counterparts.
The Indian side had apprised that they have already removed the electricity from the list of the restricted items of trade and the Government of India was examining the proposed Memorandum of Understanding for the power trade.
Following the JCWR held in January this year, Nepal had prepared the MoU draft and sent it to India for review.
However, the Indian side had expressed that they had not received the concept paper on energy banking, which was sent a couple of months ago by the government of Nepal.
During the meeting, however, the Indian officials stated that they will look into the matter and respond shortly. A cross-border transmission line of Dhalkebar-Mujaffarpur is under construction.
Director General of the Department of Irrigation Shiva Kumar Sharma led the Nepali team and the Indian team was led by chairman of Ganga Flood Control Commission Bibhas Kumar.
Koshi High Dam project to be expedited, India to build embankments on Mahakali River Likewise, the meeting also decided to expedite the study of Koshi High Dam.
Indian officials have stated they would send a team for the hydrological and geotechnical field studies in Pancheshawar Multipurpose project.
On the feasibility study of Koshi High Dam, however, the Indian side had raised the issues of local hurdles and sought conducive environment for the study.
Likewise, India has promised to construct embankments along 1200 m stretch of the Mahakali River, downstream from the Sharada barrage, on the Nepal side before the monsoon next year.
The Sharada barrage constructed by India on the border area has been causing frequent flooding, inundation and bank erosion in Nepal.
Likewise, the meeting has also decided to form a bilateral mechanism to share information to assess and issue warning of imminent flood in the Mahakali River and work on long-term planning for the protection of life and property in the area.
Floods triggered by heavy downpours in June had swept away several houses of Khalanga and many more areas along the Mahakali River.
The division-chief of Water-induced Disaster Prevention Division in Dhangadhi will represent Nepal in the joint mechanism while an official from Uttarakhanda will represent India.
Likewise, the meeting has also decided to review the report on flood forecasting activities of a taskforce formed in 2011, and the experts of both the countries will recommend to the next JSTC meeting concrete steps, including application of new technologies.
The next JSTC meet is scheduled for February 2014.
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