Senior officials from India and Nepal today kicked off a meeting here to discuss cooperation in power sector including implementation of a bilateral power trade agreement signed in 2014.
They are expected to discuss matters relating to cross- border electricity transmission, grid connectivity and power trade between both the neighbouring country, officials said.
The implementation of power trade agreement that the two countries signed in 2014 will mainly be discussed in the two- day meeting, they said.
Besides expediting works relating to construction of cross border transmission lines between Nepal and India, the meeting will discuss matters which include importing electricity from India to ease Nepal's current power shortage and to provide market access for Nepal's power producers in India for future export of surplus hydropower, Nepalese officials said.
Nepalese delegation was led by Energy Secretary Suman Prasad Sharma while PK Pujari, Power Secretary, led the Indian delegation.
This is the second time that these joint mechanisms are holding a meeting since their formation in October 2014, when the historic Nepal-India Agreement on Electric Power Trade, Cross-Border Transmission, Interconnection and Grid Connectivity was signed.
Meetings of these joint mechanisms were previously held in New Delhi in November 2014.
Officials said a meeting of the Pancheshwar Development Authority in Kathmandu is expected to be held in February.
The 5,600 MW Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project falls under the integrated treaty on Mahakali River, bordering both Nepal and India. The project is expected to provide irrigation facilities to thousands of hectares of cultivable lands in both the neighbouring countries.
Upadhyaya said the officials in New Delhi need not to
panic and think that Nepal might turn to China for help, which is just impossible.
"We cannot change history and change our neighbour, he pointed out. We must establish good relations with India for the supply of essentials as well as attaining economic prosperity," Upadhyaya said.
India has accorded high importance to her relations with Nepal, said Upadhyaya, recalling his experience as the Nepalese ambassador to India.
"We should not complicate our relations with India by talking irresponsible things and Indian authorities should also trust their norther neighbour," he said, underlining the need to move forward by maintaining a balanced relations between the two neighbours.
He also praised India for providing immediate help to Nepal during the earthquake and providing huge support for Nepal's reconstruction efforts.
"There was a breakthrough in the relations between the two countries after the visits paid by Prime minister Narendra Modi to Nepal, though unfortunately we had to face blockade for some time due to the misunderstandings surfaced in both sides of the bilateral relations," he said.
Over 50 people lost their lives during months-long agitation by the Madhesis which also saw blockade of Nepal's all trading points with India, resulting in huge shortage of essential commodities and souring Indo-Nepal ties.
The major demands of Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, include re-demarcation of the seven province model of federal structure, inclusiveness and proportionate representation of marginalised groups and ethnic minorities including the Madhesis, indigenous groups and dalits in all the state bodies.
