'India ready to revise existing bilateral treaties'
Visiting External Affairs Minister of India, Pranab Mukherjee, has
reiterated that the Indian government is ready to replace the old treaties
between the two neighbours with new ones.
Mukherjee said this during a brief encounter with journalists in Sunsari
district where he inspected the reconstruction works at the damaged Koshi
embankment, on Wednesday.
He also said the Indian government is serious towards finding a proper
solution to difficulties caused by damaged embankment of Koshi River,
adding that India would extend all possible assistance to divert the
river to its original path.
Mukherjee visited some of the flood-affected areas in Sunsari. Foreign
Minister Upendra Yadav was present during the inspection visit.
During Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to India in September,
the two governments had reached an agreement to complete the
reconstruction of Koshi dam by April next year.
Stating that India has suffered more from the inundation than Nepal,
Mukherjee stressed the need for implementation of the past agreements.
According to Koshi agreement, construction, maintenance and reconstruction
of the Koshi barrage and the dam is a liability of the Indian government.
Mukherjee returned to New Delhi in the afternoon, completing his
three-day trip to Nepal. nepalnews.com mk/ia Nov 26 08
