Leading a delegation of more than 50 members, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday left for New Delhi for a five-day state visit to India. This is Deuba’s first foreign tour after taking office in June.

 

House Speaker Onsari Gharti, Deputy PMs Bijaya Kumar Gachchadar, Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Gopalman Shrestha and other high level officials reached Trihbuvan International Airport in Kathmandu to see him off this morning. 

 

Officials said issues—past agreements and some new areas of cooperation—to be taken up by the Nepali side in New Delhi were “almost finalised”.

 

Apart from executing and implementing past accords and understandings, seven memorandums of understanding will be signed after delegation-level talks between Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. 

 

Later, the two PMs will switch on the 132 KV Kattiya-Kusha transmission line via which Nepal can import up to 50 megawatts of electricity in the dry season.

 

Other issues on table are addressing the problems of flood and inundation in the bordering areas of Nepal caused by the construction of embankments on the Indian side, Nepal’s huge trade deficit with India, expediting implementation of Indian projects in Nepal, Indian cultural support to Lumbini and Pashupatinath, construction of the second international airport in Nijgadh, and feasibility study of the east-west electric railway.

 

Deuba is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaian Naidu separately besides holding a formal meeting with PM Modi.

 

Discussions on issues relating to protection of river dams along the international border and conservation of the Chure region are likely to take place during the prime ministerial visit. The agenda includes discussion for reviewing old agreements reached between Nepal and India in relation to construction of the Laxmanpur and Koshi dams and embankments.

 

Exchange facilities for banned Indian currencies in Nepal, allowing Nepali gas bullets to import LPG from India, purchase of military hardware from the southern neighbour, finalisation of some projects under the Indian lines of credit of $250 million and $1 billion, compensation for Nepalis affected by the Koshi and Gandak projects and dry port construction in Chadani-Dodhara are also on the agenda.

 

Cross-border petroleum pipeline, access for Nepal bound cargoes to three more trading points, cross-border railways, extradition treaty and mutual legal assistance, and political issues will figure during high-level talks, officials said.

 

In Bihar, PM Deuba will visit Bodh Gaya and discuss flood management issues on both sides with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He is scheduled to return home on Sunday.