Reviewing bilateral development projects, India and Nepal on Monday joined hands for infrastructure projects. The eighth foreign ministry-level meeting of the oversight mechanism, held via video conferencing, focussed on progress of various infrastructure projects, including the Ramayan Circuit. However, sources have told that the border issues did not feature in the talks.
At the meeting, the Indian side was led by Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra in Kathmandu and the Nepalese delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi.
The meeting comes at a time when both sides have been battling over territorial issues and the recent change in the political map of Nepal by the KP Sharma Oli administration, which has not been received well by New Delhi.
However, right before the meeting, the political leadership of the two countries did strike a positive cord as the Nepalese PM KP Sharma Oli called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day of India. Both leaders decided to remain engaged.
Taking that further, a press statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu after the talks said, “Both sides have agreed to hold the next meeting of the Oversight Mechanism on a mutually convenient date to review the progress made in the implementation of the Government of India assisted economic and development cooperation projects in Nepal.”
“In a virtual meeting of Nepal-India Joint Oversight Mechanism today the two sides reviewed the progress of development projects under Indian cooperation. Foreign Secretary Shanker D Bairagi and Ambassador of India Vinay M Kwatra led their respective delegations,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal tweeted.
A “comprehensive” review of the bilateral cooperations was undertaken where both sides discussed ways to “expedite” implementation.
Infrastructure projects reviewed in India-Nepal meet
The two sides looked at the progress made in the development projects in the last one year, including “reconstruction of 46,301 earthquake-affected houses (out of 50,000 houses committed by India) in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts, the operationalisation of Motihari-Amlekhgunj cross-border petroleum products pipeline, the Integrated Check Post at Biratnagar and the High Impact Community Development Projects. Nepal also noted with appreciation Covid-19 related assistance, including the supply of medicines and medical equipment to Nepal by India,” the statement said.
Other projects that were discussed at the meeting included: terai roads, cross-border railways, Arun-III hydropower project, Pancheshwar multipurpose project, irrigation, power and transmission lines, construction of Nepal Police Academy, motorable bridges over Mahakali River, agriculture and cultural heritage, among others.
There was much speculation on whether the two sides would discuss border, but sources confirm that “border” or “map” issues did not figure during the talks. However, the Ramayana Circuit – a religious tourism development project between India and Nepal- was discussed and reviewed, the Nepal foreign ministry has said in its statement.
Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri said that while it is good to see that the ties between the two nations are moving forward despite tensions, but the Nepalese need to demonstrate their real goodwill particularly on key issues concerning India’s sovereignty and security.
“In spite of the political chill, things have continued to happen. Trade had continued, development partnership has moved on and so have humanitarian actions,” Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri said.
“These meetings and the highest level telephonic call are good and welcome but the Nepalese need to demonstrate through action their real goodwill particularly on key issues concerning India’s sovereignty and security. They should also be very mindful of providing space for Chinese hegemonistic and expansionary perspectives,” the former diplomat said.
India-Nepal Infrastructure Projects
Roads and Bridges
India has constructed 807 kilometres out of the total road length of 1024 Kilometres of the East-West Highway from Mahendranagar to Mechi (Mahendra Raj Marg) which is today a lifeline of Nepal. Twenty-two bridges were constructed by Government of India on Kohalpur-Mahakali section of the East-West Highway. These were handed over to the Government of Nepal in 2001. Besides this, in recent times, eight village and urban roads and one bridge have been constructed with GOI assistance of IRs.12.83 crores under small development projects programme to provide easy access to the people of remote villages. Presently work is ongoing for construction of eight roads and three bridges at a cost of Rs 20.43 crores. India is also funding the up-gradation of road from Dakshanikali (Kathmandu) to Kulekhani (Makwanpur) at a cost approximately Rs 9.37 crores and an additional fund of Rs 3.11 crores has been sanctioned for additional work relating to drainage, land sliding, slope stabilisation etc.
Terai Roads Projects: During External Affairs Minister of India’s visit to Nepal in January 2010, both the governments signed a memorandum of understanding for the development and construction of roads in the Terai area of Nepal. Phase-I of the project covers the development of 19 links/postal roads in the Terai districts. These 19 roads with a total length of 605 km being constructed under phase-I with Indian assistance of approximately Rs 700 crores will not only provide easy access to about 88 lakh people but will also help in the promotion of trade and industry which will eventually contribute to the overall economic development of Nepal. Phase-I will be followed by phase-II and will cover about 845 kilometres of roads. Physical work has already commenced on all the Packages of Phase I of the roads.
Electrification Projects
India is trying to bring a smile on the face of those villagers who do not have access to electricity and spend their nights either in darkness or have to burn kerosene lamps for lighting. The Indian government is providing assistance of Rs 13.77 crores for the electrification of 28 villages through Nepal Electricity Authority. The project is ongoing. Upgradation of ThameKhola Small Hydropower Plant in Solukhumbu District has also been undertaken by India with grant assistance of Rs 2.76 crores.
Drinking Water Projects
Government of India has launched a scheme of drinking water projects for remote villages where people have to walk long distances to fetch drinking water. GOI has provided assistance of Rs 13.75 crore for drinking water projects in various districts of Nepal. A project to provide drinking water facility at the base camp of Mt Everest in district Solokhumbu is being undertaken by Government of India at a cost of Rs 2.46 crores. An MoU was also signed on December 6, 2014, for providing GoI assistance amounting to Rs 64 lakh for drinking water supply project in Mustang district. This will mitigate drinking water problems of Purangaon and Ranipawa villages of the district. This is also expected to contribute to the promotion of tourism as also serve the needs of the local populace.
Strengthening of Cross-border linkages
Government of India has committed to providing assistance to the Government of Nepal for the establishment of Integrated Check-Posts (ICPs) at four major points along the India-Nepal border. These are: Raxaul(India)-Birgunj (Nepal), Saunali (India)Bhairahawa (Nepal), Jogbani (India)-Biratnagar (Nepal) and Nepalgunj Road(India)- Nepalgunj (Nepal). Both the governments have decided with mutual consent to start work on the Raxaul-Birgunj and Jogbani-Biratnagar ICPs in the first phase with Indian assistance of Rs 270 crores for the segment falling in Nepal. The ICPs will have state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilitating integrated customs and immigration for smooth cross-border movement of people and goods. Home Minister of India laid the foundation stone of ICP at Raxaul on April 24, 2010, while the Minister of State for Home Affairs laid the foundation stone of ICP at Jogbani on 24 June 2010. External Affairs Minister of India laid the foundation stone of ICP Birgunj on 22 April 2011.
Cross-Border Railway Links
Government of India has accepted the request of Government of Nepal for the establishment of cross-border railway links at five locations on the Indo-Nepal border. These are (i) Jaynagar in India to Bardibas in Nepal, (ii) Jogbani in India to Biratnagar in Nepal, (iii) Nautanwa in India to Bhairahawa in Nepal, (iv) Rupaidiha in India to Nepalgunj in Nepal, and (v) New Jalpaiguri in India to Kakarbhitta in Nepal. Work on the railway connectivity at Jaynagar-Bardibas involving conversion of 51 km railway line from Jaynagar to Bijalpura into broad-gauge and its 17 km extension up to Bardibas and on the 17.65 km Jogbani Biratnagar rail link is ongoing in the first phase of the project. The estimated cost of the two rail links proposed to be taken up in the first phase is more than Rs 802 crores.
Flood Control and River Training
India has been providing assistance to Nepal for strengthening and extension of embankments along Lalbakeya, Bagmati and Kamla rivers for flood protection in Nepal and India. India is also providing grant assistance for river training works along Gagan, Trijuga, Lakhandei, Sunsari, Kaligandaki, Kankai and Banganga rivers in Nepal.
India remains committed to continue working closely with Nepal for further development of cooperation in the field of Water Resources so that these contribute to the development and prosperity of the two close and friendly neighbouring countries.
