Nepal minister, Bharti discuss river cooperation

Nepal's Irrigation Minister Deepak Giri today met Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti here and assured full cooperation from the Himalayan country over Indo-Nepal river issues.
Bharti asserted that rivers have "an important role in strengthening ties with Nepal and are for love not for dispute", an official statement said.
She suggested setting up of a Joint Development Authority for the Kosi river on the lines of Pancheshwar Development Authority (PDA), it said.
The statement did not explain the details of setting up of the Joint Development Authority.
The Kosi river, which flows through both Nepal and India, and frequently changes its course, is known as the "sorrow of Bihar" as floods caused by it have led to the suffering a large number people in the state.

The PDA was formed in 2014 to develop, execute and operate the bi-national Pancheshwar multipurpose project aiming to generate over 6,000 MW electricity, and irrigate 1.6 million hectares in India and nearly 93,000 hectares in Nepal.
Referring to Pancheshwar, Bharti said India will extend all help to Nepal for developing its water bodies as tourist destinations which will provide employment and business opportunities to the people of Nepal.
"The Nepalese minister promised full cooperation from his country for Indo-Nepal river cooperation. Giri also extended an invitation to Bharti to visit Nepal," the statement said.