‘CONSTITUTION PROMULGATION AND IMPLEMENTATION INTERNAL MATER OF NEPAL’

Kathmandu, Aug 28: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that his India visit has been successful to lay foundation to further strengthen Nepal-India relations.

In today’s meeting of the Legislature-Parliament, briefing about his five-day state visit to India, Prime Minister Deuba said that he put forth the matters clearly for the resolution of problems related to flooding and inundation at the Nepal-India border areas before his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

The Prime Minister returned home yesterday evening from India.

Saying that he also held discussion with his Indian counterpart to complete the Detailed Project Report of Pancheshwor Multi-Purpose Project within a month, the Prime Minister said that an agreement was reached to come up with appropriate ways to implement all aspects of power trade agreement apart from resuming operation of trade transit points like Dhangadhi-Gauriphanta, Gulariya-Murtiya, Jatahi-Piparaun and Pashupati-Sukiyapokhari after upgrading them.

PM Deuba said that he held talks with the Indian side for economic development and investment in Nepal. Similarly agreement was reached for development and expansion of tourism sector, construction of Nijgadh airport and construction of 132 KV transmission line.

PM Deuba said, “Agreement has been reached on eight different issues.”

Saying agreement has been reached to forward construction of transmission line in new places, he said that Nepal and India have agreed for development of power and tourism sectors and forwarding big projects.

The PM expressed the belief that big and important projects would be forwarded gradually, saying important discussion was held regarding taking hydropower projects like upper Karnali and Arun III ahead.

Saying constitution promulgation and implementation is internal matter of Nepal, Prime Minister Deuba clarified his attention has been drawn towards the remarks and publicity made linking him.

Stating that he had not mentioned anything about the domestic affairs of the country, PM Deuba urged sides concerned to not make unwarranted comments. “There shall be no compromise over the internal affairs and constitution of Nepal, unwarranted comments make no sense,” he said.

Making it clear that efforts were on to make the constitutional all-acceptable by addressing the grievances over it, Prime Minister Deuba said his visit to India had been successful in taking the bilateral relations ahead, and that Nepal will get benefit from it in the long-term. RSS

KATHMANDU, Aug 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deubais scheduled to visit India on his first official trip overseas from August 23, according to government sources.

Deuba’s five-day state visit will come at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The detail itinerary and agenda of the visit and the size of the delegation are yet to be finalized, sources close to the prime minister said.

Deuba’s visit will focus on implementing the past accords that were signed during his visits to India in 1996, 2002 and 2004 as prime minister.

“The prime minister is keen to implement the past agreements reached during his three visits to India. While dwelling on the status of the India-funded projects, the prime minister also plans to discuss the issues, if any, that have impeded the projects,” said a senior official at PM’s residence.

“The prime minister has also told officials that there must be some concrete outcome from the visit,” added the official.

The two-decade old Rs 30,000-crore bi-national Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project and other energy and infrastructure related projects are likely to be high on the agenda during Deuba’s visit, officials said.

The project aims to produce 5,000 MW of electricity.

In 1996, Deuba and then Indian prime minister P V Narasimha Rao had held discussions on reviewing the 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty and expediting the implementation of the Mahakali Treaty, including the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project and its financing model, Saptakoshi High Dam, Sunkoshi Diversion, Karnali Multipurpose Project and Budhi Gandaki Hydro Electricity Project, among others.

In 2002, India and Nepal had agreed for the early conclusion of the Agreement for Mutual Legal Assistance and updating the Extradition Treaty and construction of four Integrated Check-Posts along the Nepal-India border.

Both sides had called for a plan of action for the early commencement of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project. But a detailed project report is yet to be completed.

Besides his political engagements in New Delhi, Deuba is likely to visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar and Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh after concluding his engagements in New Delhi.