New Delhi, February 27:

The Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR), a high-level body comprising the authorities of Nepal and India, will hold its fourth meeting by the third week of March in Varanasi, India.

The third JCWR meeting, held after a gap of four years in Kathmandu from September 29

to October 1 last year, had decided to hold its next meeting in Varanasi in February.

But the meeting could not take place as the government of Nepal wanted more time for preparation, UN Panjiar, Water Resources Secretary of India, said. “The meeting will take place in second or third week of March. But the exact dates are yet to be finalised.”

The JCWR meetings take stock of bilateral water projects and recommend appropriate measures to expedite the projects of bilateral concerns. Panjiar said Nepal’s 6,480 MW Pancheswor project could prominently figure in the next JCWR meeting.

The bilateral apex body on water resources is holding its meeting at a time when power outage woes have been taking heavy toll on Nepal.

“Nepal wants to generate power and India is willing to consume it. Harnessing Nepal’s water resources will be a win-win situation for both the countries,” Panjiar said, adding, “We are always open and willing to support Nepal.”

The JCWR meeting is also likely to take stock of the repair works of Koshi embankments and other water-related projects.

When asked about the proposed Koshi high dam project, Panjiar said, “The first thing is that the Detailed Project Report should be completed in a time-bound manner.”