Nepalgunj, August 5:

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula today said that efforts are on at the diplomatic level to solve the issue of problems caused by the Laxmanpur barrage built by India on the Nepal-India border.

Sitaula, who arrived here to inspect flood-affected areas of Banke and Bardiya districts, told reporters: “The problem will be solved at the diplomatic level between both the countries on a mutually satisfying basis. Talks are going on for the purpose.”

NC vice-president Sushil Koirala also said that the talks between the Indian Foreign Ministry and the Nepalese embassy in India were on to tackle the issue. He added that the Nepali government had seriously taken up with India the issue of floods caused in Nepali territory by the barrage.

CPN-UML leader Bam Dev Gautam said India would be forced to dismantle the barrage if sufficient international pressure were to be mounted on it. He said the international community should be made aware of the dangers posed by the barrage to Nepal and its people. Maoist MP Purna Subedi also sought dismantling of the barrage.

Banke chief district officer Narendra Raj Sharma said Banke and other adjoining districts were flooded because of the obstruction caused by the barrage in the free flow of waters in the Gandhalia and Sotia canals in Nepal. Sitaula, Koirala, Gautam and legislators Gyanu KC, Parmanad Barma, Kailashnath Gupta, Rangnath Joshi, Kashi Poudel, Moti Devi Tharu, Ram Charan Chaudhary and Purna Subedi inspected the flood-ravaged areas of Banke’s Gangapur and Rajapur in Bardiya.

Sitaula assured the flood victims that the government will do its best in sending in supplies and flood relief materials.