At the meeting, Minister for Energy and Minister of Irrigation were invited to discuss the progress made in the Nepal-India Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources and agreement, and the policy unveiled by the government regarding the new provision of providing licenses to the power developers.[break]
During the meeting, lawmakers asked Minister for Energy Posta Bahadur Bogati to make it clear whether or not the Ministry was mulling to award the applicants based on date of application instead of competition as rumored in media.
The Committee´s member also interrogated the Energy Minister whether any agreement against the national interests were signed in the Nepal-India Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources as Nepal was always cheated by India regarding the issues of water resources.
Responding to the lawmakers´ queries, Minister Bogati assured them saying the bilateral meeting on waters resources which was stalled for long was resumed after the recent meeting held in New Delhi, India.
Minister Bogati urged the lawmakers not to doubt saying that no clandestine agreement was signed at the meeting.
Bogati said the issues pertaining to Mahakali Treaty and Pancheshwor Project have internal and bilateral disputes, adding that such debatable issues should be finalized based on friendly debates and discussions.
Bogati said, "Agreement has been signed to constitute Pancheshwor Development Authority to end the deadlock for beginning the project as the first task is to prepare DPR."
During the ministerial level meeting held on February 15, both sides had agreed to expedite the setting up of Pancheshwar Development Authority at the earliest for implementation of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.
Similarly, Minister for Irrigation Mahendra Prasad Yadav said this was not the right time to agree on such debatable issues due to the transitional condition of the country. But steps were taken to resume the Nepal-India Water Resources meeting that was stalled for long, Minister Yadav added.
Secretary at the Energy Ministry, Hareram Koirala said a team of experts on water resources was taking part at the meeting to do away with the doubts that Nepal would be cheated by Indian side like in the past.
During the joint ministerial commission meeting, both sides have agreed to expedite the completion of DPR of Sapta Koshi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Koshi Storage cum Diversion Scheme by February 2013.
The meeting also considered to examine the possibility of facilitating duty free movement of materials and equipments to Nepal for maintenance works under Gandak Project through appropriate arrangement.
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