Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 11

Hailing initiatives taken by the political leadership of the region at the recently-concluded 12th SAARC summit, India and Nepal agree that the responsibility has now shifted to the diplomatic and bureaucratic level.

'The political leadership having done its part, it is now up to us diplomats to deliver,' said acting-Indian ambassador, VP Haran, referring to the signing of the Social Charter & Framework Treaty on South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) and Additional Protocol to the Regional Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism at the regional jamboree.

Karna Dhoj Adhikary, ambassador-designate to India, said 'In the wake of significant steps taken at the SAARC summit, we now have a daunting responsibility on our shoulders.'

During the felicitation programme, organised by Nepal-Bharat Friendship Society in his honour here today, Adhikary highlighted the need for Nepal and India to capitalise on the immense hydropower potential.

Referring to criticism of the Kosi project, he added, 'A lot of people tend to forget that the anomalies involving the agreement between Nepal and India were later revised. According to which, Nepal has every right to use the water for irrigation, power generation or drinking.'

Nepal-India ties have their rewards and difficulties, said Haran, adding, 'Lately, the negative aspects seem to be overshadowing the positive ones.'

Vice-president of the Society, Hulas Chand Golchha, stressed the importance of exploiting the hydropower potential.

'Look at Bhutan, it now has the highest per capital income in the region,' he added.