Mahakali Treaty To Be Ratified During Gujrals Nepal Visit

India and Nepal would exchange the instrument of ratification of the Mahakali treaty during the forthcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister I K Gujral to this tiny Himalayan kingdom, Nepalese Premier Lokendra Bahadur Chand said here yesterday.

Speaking to journalists here, Chand said Gujrals three-day visit to Nepal, beginning on June 5, would also further strengthen Nepal-India relations and would pave the way for a new era of cooperation between the two countries, he added.

The treaty, signed in February last year at the prime ministerial level during the official visit of the then Nepalese Premier Sherbahadur Deuba, was ratified by the Nepalese Parliament with a two-thirds majority in September last year.

 

Since then, the detailed project report (DPR) of the Mahakali project have also been exchanged between the two countries regarding power production and irrigation which forms a vital part of the treaty, but the two countries are yet to agree of the technical details.

Nepal and India are also scheduled to sign the power trade agreement during the visit. The agreement which provides for sale of power to India was also initialled at the secretary level meeting during Deubas visit to India, Chand said.

The Nepalese Prime Minister said Nepal and India would also discuss and review progress in the implementation of the ongoing Indian-assisted projects and explore avenues for new areas of cooperation for the benefit of both the countries.

Chand said he would also discuss with Gujral for increase in seats in air traffic between the two countries and expected to sign an agreement on the subject. Private airlines participation in the Nepal-India route could also be finalised during Gujrals visit, he added.

Chand said Gujrals visit is the first by an Indian Prime Minister since the visit of P V Narasimha Rao in 1992 and is expected to make significant contribution towards deepening the traditional ties of friendship and cooperation between Nepal and India.