Nepal and India Hold Talks on Kosi and Gandak Projects

Kathmandu. Discussions were held between officials of Nepal and India in Kathmandu to resolve the long-pending technical and administrative issues of the Kosi and Gandak projects. The 11th meeting of the Joint Committee of Kosi and Gandak Projects (JCKGP), held from April 30 to May 1, decided to cooperate in the field of water resources and prepare a clear roadmap for the future. This meeting conducted a detailed review focusing on the problems of inundation and irrigation in the border areas of both countries. The Nepali delegation was led by the Director General of the Department of Irrigation, Mitra Baral, while the Indian team was led by the Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department of the Bihar government, Santosh Kumar Mall. In the two-day talks, in-depth discussions were held on topics such as water resource management, flood control, and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure related to the Kosi and Gandak projects. Officials from Nepal and India expressed their commitment to move forward through a common mechanism to reduce the problems faced by the citizens of both countries by making cooperation more effective. In particular, the meeting has set a new action plan on short-term and long-term measures to be adopted to prevent floods and erosion during the monsoon season. The Water Resources Department of the Bihar government has described this meeting as historically successful and fruitful. It is believed that this meeting will pave the way for the strengthening of major irrigation and embankment projects like Kosi and Gandak, and take the water diplomacy between the two countries to new heights.