Senior Nepali and Indian officials have agreed to work on taming perennial inundation problem caused by rivers originated from Nepal and decided to build embankment at some places.

The 11th meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Committee on Inundation and Flood Management (JCIFM), held in Janakpur and Kathmandu from April 16-21, took the decision to this effect.

The meeting began in Janakpur on April 16, which was followed by site visits to the Kamala, Bagmati and Lal Bakaiya rivers.

Sites requiring urgent and critical works were inspected, and works were recommended for the following five locations, said an Indian Embassy statement.

According to the decision, both sides have agreed to build embankments at Basbitta, Bandipur and Kirathpur area to tame flooding caused by the Kamala river and on the left bank of Bagmati river and Laxminiya on the Lal Bakayariver.

After completing the field visits, formal talks were held in Kathmandu for three days, which concluded on Friday.

The Indian team was led by AK Sinha, member (planning) of the Ganga Flood Control Commission and the Nepali side was led by Madhukar Prasad Rajbhandari, director general of the Department of Water-Induced Disaster Management. 

During the meeting, the two sides discussed various issues including ongoing works and release of funds, flood forecasting issues, works on the West Rapti, Khando, Bhutahi Balan, Dodha and Mohana and Lakhandehi rivers. Similarly, they also agreed on flood inundation issues on Mahali Sagar on Bairganiya Ring Bund, Rato, Lakhandehi and Meechi rivers.

The JCIFM also discussed mechanism for proper coordination at field level and draft of Terms of Reference for concurrent evaluation of the ongoing inundation and flood management projects.