BAITADI, JULY 15

The Nepal-India coordination meeting concluded in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand State, India, with an agreement to open the Jhulaghat checkpoint from 6:00am every day.

The meeting attended by the chief district officers of Baitadi and Darchula of Nepal and chief district officer of Pithoragarh decided to open the checkpoint that is adjacent to Baitadi district.

Earlier, the border point used to open at 7:00am causing sheer inconvenience for people of both countries, especially those Nepalis going to India for medical treatment and shopping.

Chief District Officer of Baitadi, Suresh Panthi, shared that officials in the meeting decided to open the checkpoint an hour earlier than the previously set time.

'Now onwards, the Jhulaghat checkpoint will open from 6:00am to 7:00pm keeping in view the convenience of people from both countries,' added Panthi.

Officials of both countries agreed to augment cooperation in a wide range of areas such as operating rubber boats in the Mahakali River, collaborating between security agencies of both countries for disaster response efforts, preventing dumping of garbage into the river and operating a joint patrol along the border to control human trafficking and wildlife smuggling.

Furthermore, both sides agreed to coordinate efforts to curb illegal and criminal activities in the bordering areas and to repair the age-old suspension bridge at Jhulaghat after forming a technical committee comprising members from both countries.

Similarly, the detailed project report for constructing a motorable bridge at Jhulaghat has been prepared and sent to the central government of India, it was shared in the meeting.

It may be noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced construction of a motorable bridge at Jhulaghat during the official visit of Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal to India.

Similarly, Chief District Officer of Darchula district Kiran Joshi informed that in the meeting, the Indian officials proposed to lift water from the Mahakali River to address drinking water shortage in Darchula, while the Nepali side proposed the import of fuel to run generator at Byas, Darchula, reasoning that there was no electricity there. The discussion also featured issues including illegal supply of drugs along the border.

The meeting was attended by Darchula CDO Joshi, Baitadi CDO Panthi, and chiefs of Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force in Baitadi and Darchula districts from the Nepali side while Darchula Officer Rina Joshi and chiefs of security bodies attended from the Indian side.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 16, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.