Amid reports that India-funded projects in Nepal are not making satisfactory progress, visiting Nepali lawmakers have requested the Indian side to speed up the construction of pending projects to enhance an environment of trust between the two countries.

At a programme organised by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and the Indian Council for International Cooperation, the visiting members of Development Committee of Parliament urged the Indian side to take measures to complete development projects. The RIS is an independent Delhi-based think-tank under the Ministry of External Affairs.

Pancheshwar, Hulaki Road and Kathmandu-Nijgadh Fast Track, among other projects were on top of the agenda at an interaction between the Nepali lawmakers and Indian officials. The discussion was focused on ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the development sector.

Development Committee Chairman Rabindra Adhikari said that development cooperation and connectivity should be the basis for bilateral relation between the two countries along with existing cultural, economic and geographical proximity. He stated that development issues are politicised and development should be a top priority of the political parties.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Mahendra Yadav said most of the signed Indian projects are not making progress in Nepal. “Most of the signed projects are yet to take off or they are being halted after some work,” Yadav said, adding that the very issue has created mistrust between the two countries. Comparing the Indian projects with the Chinese projects, Yadav said, “While China has signed a fewer projects, it is focused on completing them. On the other hand, India is committing to a lot of projects, but it has completed a few projects.” Other lawmakers also stressed for harnessing the development projects both in the Madhes and the hills.

But the Indian side has defended their position, passing the buck on the Nepali side for the lack of progress in the ongoing projects.

Chairman of RIS and former envoy to Nepal Shyam Saran said some of the projects, including Hulaki Road, were delayed due to problems on the Nepali side.

Saran, however, added that the doors are always open for Nepal for the cooperation on development issues between the two countries.

“When I was ambassador to Nepal, the country used to import 50MW of electricity from India. Now it has reached 350MW,” Saran said, adding that India’s development support is aimed at the capacity building of Nepal.

“Regarding the construction of Hulaki road, there are problems like land acquisition and contractor facing difficulties at the local level,” Sharan pointed out. He informed the Nepali lawmakers about Indian government’s recent decision to speed up both the domestic and foreign projects. 

Speaking on the occasion, Professor SD Muni, an experienced Nepal hand, said the Nepali side should fulfill its responsibility to complete the development projects. Referring to Nepali lawmakers’ comment that the China-funded development projects are making progress, he said “India is a democratic country and China has a different system”. 

Urging the Nepali lawmakers to forge a national consensus on country’s development, Muni said: “There is no consensus among four major parties including the implement of BIPPA agreement.”

Former Ambassador to Nepal KV Rajan said once a new technology is adopted in India, it should be implemented in Nepal. Regarding the delay in projects, Rajan said “in the democratic system, certain process should be met”.