The fifth meeting of Nepal-India Joint Standing Technical Committee on Water Resources began in Delhi on Thursday to assess the progress made on ongoing irrigation projects, inundation and flood control.

The two-day meeting is the first official engagement between the two countries after the cancellation of President Bidhya Devi Bhan-dari’s visit to India and recalling of Nepal’s Ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhyay.

The two sides are also discussing about preparing a comprehensive strategy for flood control. Joint Secretary at Ministry of Irrigation Madhav Belbase leads the Nepali team which also includes representatives from the Foreign Ministry. The Indian side comprises representatives of Central Water Resources Ministry, among others. Kamala, Bagmati and other major irrigation projects are on the agenda, according to Nepali officials.

The meeting is also expected to prepare the future strategy on ways to enhance the ongoing projects.

It will produce a progress regarding the progress on the ongoing projects. In the meeting held in 2013, the two sides had discussed wide-ranging issues, including Pancheshwor Development Authority, Koshi and Gandak Project, Energy Banking, inundation problems due to Mahali Sagar bund.