Nepal forms team to ease standoff with India over supplies

The talks will be held to ensure smooth supply of petroleum products, Liquid Petroleum Gas and other goods to Nepal

Nepal today formed a three-member team headed by the Foreign Minister to ease a diplomatic standoff with India over the supply of essential goods, including petroleum products, hit due to blockade of trade points with India by people protesting the new Constitution.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the Prime Minister's residence constituted the committee comprising Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Minister for Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa and the secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies.

"We will hold consultations within Nepal before beginning talks with Indian authorities soon," Pandey told reporters.

The team will hold talks with Indian officials to end the ongoing standoff so as to ensure smooth supply of petroleum products, Liquid Petroleum Gas and other essential goods to landlocked Nepal.

While briefing the Kathmandu-based US and European envoys at his office yesterday, Pandey is learnt to have sought their support to end the standoff saying that Nepal is facing a humanitarian crisis due to lack of essential supplies after the disruptions at the Indo-Nepal border checkpoints for last two weeks.

Nepal is facing acute shortage of petroleum products and other essential goods ahead of the Hindu festival Vijaya Dashami and Deepawali.

Nepal says India has imposed "an unofficial blockade" on landlocked Nepal in the pretext of agitation launched by Madhesi parties who were protesting against the new Constitution that demarcates the country into seven states.

More than 40 people have died in the agitations launched by the Madhesis - the Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal's Terai region bordering India - and Tharu ethnic groups in southern plains, hitting hard normal life.

They are against splitting Nepal into seven provinces. The continued blockade of border trade points with India has halted the supply of essential goods from India.

India denies imposing blockade, saying truck drivers are concerned for their safety after protests in the country.

A separate committee was also formed under the coordination of Minister for Commerce and Supplies Thapa to ease the current disruption at the border points and address needs of essential goods during the upcoming festivals.

Similarly, another committee was set up under the coordination of Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission Govinda Raj Pokharel to come up with a sustainable and long-term alternative energy policy to deal with the crisis.