KATHMANDU: A meeting of the Joint Committee on Water Resource (JCWR) between Nepal and India begins here tomorrow at Pokhara.

Agendas for the meeting range from Pancheshwor

multi-purpose project, power trade, irrigation, flood control and other water-related

cooperation.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, Minister for Energy, Dr Prakash Saran Mahat, said that the meeting would finalise Terms of Reference (ToR) on Pancheshwor Development Authority. He said that the discussions would focus on the Mahakali Treaty as well as Pancheshwor project. He, however, said that ‘power trade agreement’ between Nepal and India is one of the fresh agendas before the JCWR of both countries which will be discussed in an intense manner.

Minister Mahat also informed that a profound homework and discussion was needed on the matter. India had already agreed for power trade with Nepal but the latter is dilly-dallying in preparing required documents. Inundation problems, due to Laxmanpur barrage, Kalkalwa bund and Rasiawal Khurd-Lotan bund, are other agendas that Nepali side is going to raise in the meeting.

Analysts maintain that after signing the deal for power trade with India, Nepal will be able to attract private investors in hydropower sector.

Also, Sapta Koshi High Dam, Sunkoshi Diversion Project and the Naumure Project are up for discussions. The study of Sapta Koshi High Dam has been halted due to security lapses. The construction of Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur 400 KV cross border transmission line is another issue up in the talks.