Nepal and India ink seven agreements

Kathmandu, 01 June: Nepal will be able to supply 4o MW power to Bangladesh through Indian Grid, a long pending demand from Nepal that India conceded, during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s oficial trip to India- first after he assumed office for the third time in December.

In the sidelines of two Prime Ministers’ meeting in the morning, the two sides signed seven important agreements, and power supply to Bangladesh, with the limit of 40 MW as of now was one of them.

India was, however, not forthcoming to Nepal’s demand for Indian airspace to operate Lumbini and Pokhara International airports, officials said, adding, though, the issue would be explored further at the bilateral level.

The two sides signed a Memoranda of Understanding with Nepal inviting India’s Satlaj Jal Bidhoot Nigam and the National Hydro Power Corporation to develop 669-MW lower Arun hydro project and 418-MW Phukot Karnali Project respectively.

Completion of the 400-kv Gorakhpur-Butwal transmission line, inauguration of twin integrated check post in Rupadia-Nepalgunj and Sunauli-Bhairahawa, providing Nepal access to Indian waterways for trade were the other highlights of the understanding between the two sides.

Prime Minister Dahal will be visiting Ujjain and offer Pooja at Mahankaleshwar there tomorrow.