Saptakosi embankment will be repaired by March, say officials
The Joint Committee on Water Resource (JCWR) – the water resource secretary-level body of Nepal and India – wrapped up its three-day long meeting, Wednesday in Kathmandu, with officials claiming that they will complete the repair of Saptakosi embankment and bring the river to its original course by March next year.
"We have agreed to complete the repair of embankments by March. And we have also agreed to conduct further studies on Kosi high dam and Sunkoshi Kamala diversion. Nepal government will ensure security during the study to be completed in one year," Shankar Koirala, Water Resource Secretary, told reporters at the end of the meeting.
India's Water Resource Secretary UN Panjiar said that the two sides have reached positive outcomes. "All issues related with inundation in Nepal side have been resolved," he said.
The two sides have agreed that Naumure – the 240 MW strong hydropower project, which India had earlier agreed to gift to Nepal – project will be expedited.
They also agreed to set up Pancheshwore Development Authority to proceed with the Pancheshwore Multipurpose Project as per the Mahakali Integrated Treaty.
In Laxmanpur barrage, the Indian side has agreed to have unregulated water flow from Gandheli and Sotiya streams of Nepal, as per our demand, said Koirala.
The two sides also agreed to form a higher level of Ministerial-level Joint Commission on Water Resources to handle the water issues.
The next meeting of JCWR will take place in February of 2009 in Benaras, India. nepalnews.com sd Oct 01 08
