Cabinet endorses agenda

KATHMANDU: The Cabinet endorsed the agenda of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s India visit on Monday.

“The government will discuss extradition treaty between the two countries, commerce, trade investment, and Koshi and Laxmanpur dam issues with India during the PM’s visit,” said Information and Communications Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet.

According to Basnet, India had committed to providing Rs 500 million to the affected Nepali people while constructing Koshi barrage (in 1958) but has not done so till now. He said Nepal would raise the issue with India during the PM’s visit.

Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Bir Bahadur Balayar said the PM’s India visit was important from the perspective of implementation of bilateral agreements signed between the two countries.

He said construction of Arun III Hydroelectric Project and Pancheshwar Multi-purpose Project were also on the PM’s agenda.

“The government will also take up the issue of assistance committed by India for reconstruction efforts,” said Balayar. He said India had announced it would provide support to reconstruct infrastructure destroyed during the 2015 earthquakes but a large chunk of the Indian assistance was yet to be received.

He said the government would also discuss operation of rail-services between the two countries, besides dwelling on Nepal’s growing trade deficit with India.