Miscellaneous
2nd meeting will assess projects funded by India
Nepal and India will assess and evaluate the progress made on various India-funded projects, including Arun III and Upper Karnali during the second meeting of Nepal-India Oversight Mechanism on Monday.Nepal and India will assess and evaluate the progress made on various India-funded projects, including Arun III and Upper Karnali during the second meeting of Nepal-India Oversight Mechanism on Monday.
Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi and Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae will lead the respective counties at the meeting with representatives of the contractors that have undertaken the India-funded projects also in attendance.
Nepal and India had agreed to set up such a mechanism during the state visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to India in September last year to quell the criticism that India-funded projects in Nepal have failed to make desired level of progress.
Though there has been very little headway since the first meeting in November, officials said that some projects like cross- border transmission line and cross-border railway network have made relative progress.
During the first meeting, both sides had identified that four bilateral issues related with India-funded projects—rail projects, construction of the integrated check posts in Nepali side, transmission lines, Upper Karnali project, Arun III project, Pancheshawar Development Authority, Tarai Roads projects and Mahakali bridges—would be discussed.
Also on the table are agendas related to Indian grant for housing, cultural heritage, health, education under the reconstruction projects as well as utilisation of Indian line of credit of $750 million, among others.
As per the minute of the first meeting, glitches and obstructions from the Nepali side have been hindering in making progress in the India-funded projects. “We had prepared a matrix of various India funded projects during the first meeting of the mechanism,” said Foreign Secretary Bairagi. “We have made progress in various projects, but it will take some time before we see tangible progress.”
The Indian side has yet to hand over the details to Nepal on the health related projects, mutual agreement to funding for socio-technical facilitation under the grant extended for Nepali reconstruction projects, fixing of alignment and preparation of land acquisition plan at Nepalgunj, Kakadbhitta-New Jalpaiguri and Bhairahawa-Nautanuwa road sections.
The Indian side is also required to complete the installation of 100 MVA transformer in Muzaffarpur, with the NHPC of India being tasked to upgrade the existing 220/132 kv, decreasing the shut-down period of Gandak Power House, evacuation of power through Lamki to Bareilli cross-border transmission line.
Similarly, dealing with the PDA of various India-funded hydropower projects, finalisation of sites at three motorable bridges over Mahakai at Sirsa, Jhulaghat and Darchula, construction of three suspension bridges in Mahakali River are among the issues that India needs to expedite.
Also outstanding on part of India are Various road projects under India’s line of credit, DPR of irrigation projects at Mahakali River, construction of the remaining portion of irrigation facility at Gandak, strengthening and rehabilitation of Gandak Irrigation Infrastructure Rehabilitation of Nepal on the eastern side, deputation of staff at cross-head regulation of the Koshi barrage, compensation for land and crops damaged due to Koshi and Gandak projects, among others.