India or भारत मुखी नेपाली राजनीति, poor planning of cities or nature itself ??

India terms it ‘attention shift’
MPs blame India for floods



Kantipur Report


KATHMANDU, July 28 - Speaking in the interim parliament, Birodh Khatiwada of CPN-UML, Lilamani Pokharel of People's Front Nepal and Bharat Bimal Yadav of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi) said people in the terai were suffering from floods due to several structures constructed by the Indian government near the bordering areas.
They also urged the government to take immediate initiative to hold dialogue with the Indian government to provide outlet to the water from Laxmanpur Barrage built near Banke district, and other dams.

When inquired regarding this, Jawed Ashraf, Counselor at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, said the opening of an outlet has not materialized due to inaction from the government of Nepal, and added that focusing only on Laxmanpur is "an effort to shift attention" from the larger problem of managing floods in the country.

"Flooding is there from the beginning of the foothills all the way down to the Ganges, and not just along the border. Even Bihar and parts of UP are

flooded," he said.

"There was an agreement to create an opening in Kalkalwa embankment (next to Laxmanpur barrage) to provide an outlet for water. This was to be created in conjunction with the construction of embankment on the right bank of Rapti River, which we have offered to construct. But there is need for the two sides to meet and decide

the size of the opening," he said.

"In the last one year, I have received no request - I repeat, no request - for a meeting on this from the Government of Nepal," he said.

According the Ashraf, India had taken the initiative to set up field visits and a subcommittee meeting in Lucknow in August 2006. Nepal had given India data to review and India offered to give feedback.

"We subsequently felt that the issue could be resolved quickly at a full High Level Technical Committee meeting and proposed meetings twice in September and October 2006. On both instances, the meetings were postponed at the insistence of Government of Nepal. Subsequently, we proposed another meeting in January 2007. In response, Government of Nepal merely informed us that it would rather have our feedback first. We remain convinced that these issues should be discussed in bilateral meetings and we are prepared to meet as often as is required to resolve the outstanding issue," he said.

Expect rain for few more days
The incessant rainfall that started last Friday will continue for three or four more days, according to Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD).

"Rainfall has been reported throughout the country in the past one week. Though the level of rainfall has varied from place to place, what we can say right now is that it will continue for some more -- may be three to four -- days as it is everywhere," said Meteorologist Suman Regmi of MFD at Tribhuvan International Airport.

July is generally the period when the level of rainfall is highest in the country, according to Regmi. The data of the division shows that rainfall this monsoon is significantly higher in comparison to last year.

Rainfall in July 2006 in Dadeldhura was 285.4 mm while it has reached 343.4 mm in July 2007. Likewise, it was 560.4 mm in Dhangadhi in July 2006, while it is 602.2 mm this July.

Similarly rainfall in Nepalgunj last July was 420.8 mm, while it is 572.8 mm this July, according to the division. Rainfall increased from 394.7 to 751.1 mm in Pokhara, 304.5 to 507.1 mm in Bhairahawa, 436.9 to 684.8 mm in Simara, 286.5 to 432.6 mm in Okhaldhunga and 120.4 to 202 mm in Dhankuta in July 2007 in comparison to July 2006, the division said.

Posted on: 2007-07-27 20:46:57 (Server Time)

Nepalmountainnews Report | 28 Jun 2007 | Views: 23
Technicians, security and water resource experts of Nepal and India have agreed to let the Rapti river without any obstruction, reports said.

In a meeting between Indian and Nepalese officials in the border town of Nepalgunj on Wednesday, the Indian side assured that the Laxmanpur barrage would not be closed during inundation in the Rapti River so as to let the water flow naturally, Kantipur reported.

A technical team of India’s Sarju Canal and the security chiefs of bordering Baharaich district asked the Nepali side to give prior information about the inundation to the Indian officials.

Chief District Officer of Banke including police chief and officials of Water Induced Calamity Division represented Nepal in the meeting.

In the meeting, the Nepali side also put their stance of allowing the water of Sutaili and Gandhaili stream to flow naturally and Indian team had provided green signal.

The natural flow of these two streams have been obstructed by the wall built unilaterally by India, causing some 10 VDC’s of Banke district to submerge under water every monsoon.

Locals demand dismantling of Laxmanpur barrage

POST REPORT

NEPALGUNJ, Aug 6 : Flood-affected people of Banke have asked the Nepali authorities to impress the government of India to dismantle the India-built aflux-bund of the Laxmanpur barrage during a meeting of the Joint Nepal-India Inundation Problem Committee to be held in Lucknow beginning Sunday.

Six Village Development Committees located in the eastern part of the district have been inundated after the Indian side built the 12-km long aflux-bund on both sides of the barrage about four years ago.

"The entire VDCs have been submerged as a result of the construction of the 12-km long aflux-bund," said Lokendra Bhattarai, senior engineer at the Divisional Office of Water-Induced Disaster Prevention. He said about 4,900 hectares of land has been inundated though there has been low precipitation in Banke.

Meanwhile, issuing a press statement today, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said a marginal embankment on the Indian side of the border has been constructed as part of the Laxamnpur barrage to protect Indian villages from inundation.

It also said that the barrage is not yet operational since the canal system associated with the barrage is not yet ready. Hence the question of closing the gates of the barrage and causing inundation on the Nepali side does not arise.

While raising concerns over the press reports regarding inundation problems along the Nepal-India border the release said, "Such reports are often based on unverified information and are sometimes completely contrary to facts."

"Such reports are misleading and not only create misunderstanding between our two friendly countries but violate the atmosphere in which inundation problems can be successfully tackled through cooperative efforts," added the statement.

The statement said there is no dam constructed by India at Laxmanpur, but a barrage on the Rapti River 8-km from the Nepal-India border, well within the Indian territory.

The statement also clarifies about the reported construction of a dam in Koilabas. "There is no dam being constructed at Koilabas," the statement said and added that there exists an old reservoir straddling the India-Nepal border at Koilabas, with its gated escape located on the Indian side.

The Independent July/August 2000

PM's India visit should be utilised fully

By a staff reporter

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala leaves for an official visit to India this Monday (July 31). This will be his first official tour abroad after he became the Prime Minister of the country for the fourth time.


There had been much talk of this visit by PM Koirala, as there have been quite a bit of ups and downs in the relations between Nepal and India in the past year or so. While most of the ruffled feathers have been smoothened to some extent, yet, the opposition parties never fail to bring up some chronic issues, with which to beat the ruling party. Kalapani, DPR of Mahakali Treaty, the ever persistent 1950 Treaty and now the Laxmunpur Dam, they have been handy issues to beat the establishment with whenever Nepal-India ties are discussed.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala did not help matters, when in the heat of the moment he made a rash remark about not visiting India till the Kalapani issue was resolved. He apparently made this “vow” during the run-up to the last election and the opposition leaders have not failed to embarrass Koirala by reminding him of what he said.

However, it is high time both the ruling party leaders and also the opposition stalwarts look at India in a more broad-minded manner. Neither should the powerful neighbour be taken in a placid and complacent way, nor should it be treated as an arch enemy. India is a factor that Nepal can never ignore, no matter how some people may react to it..

There are many characteristics that guide and dominate Nepal-India ties. Not only does Nepal have unique social and cultural ties with its Southern neighbour, but it is also its biggest trade partner and Indian ports are used to bring goods into Nepal. Even the much debated open border, is a tie that binds the two nations in a strong manner.

Therefore, such an opportunity when the leaders of the two nations meet at the highest level, should not be wasted on mere formalities. The moment should be fully utilised so that any bumps in the relations between the two neighbours, can be smoothened and ways can be worked out to initiate programmes that will benefit both the nations.

Two programmes were organised in Kathmandu on Sunday, to discuss the visit of the Prime Minister. The programmes were attended by foreign policy experts and senior leaders of the different political parties.



It was indicated at both the functions that if for nothing else, just the fact that the present visit of PM Koirala comes almost four years after former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba went to New Delhi, is already important. Like mentioned by former Indian Ambassador to Nepal KV Rajan, “An issue should be made when leaders of the two countries don’t make regular visits, not when they make one”.

It is true, considering the extensive relations Nepal has with India, it is surprising why a Nepalese Prime Minister had not been able to go to New Delhi for so long.

Speaking at a programme on Monday, Former Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Lok Raj Baral quite rightly pointed out that the gap of the past four years has led to a “break in the preparation work over many issues”.

It is indeed true, that Nepalese officials and politicians make efforts to prepare themselves for such an important visits only at the last moment. This will always put them at a disadvantage.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Nepal Intellectual Council, main opposition party leader Madhav Kumar Nepal suggested that a “white paper” covering all aspects of the Nepal-India ties be prepared by the government and all discussion with India be based on it.

It is difficult to say how practical this idea is, but there is no doubt political parties here will have to learn to forge a consensus on important national or bilateral issues. There shouldn’t be different views regarding crucial matters like foreign policy, water resources policy or issues which can affect the nation’s status and stability.

Editorial, Kathmandu Post, June 27, 2000

Go to the Hague

The construction of the 22 kilometres long South Laxmanpur barrage across the Rapti river without Nepal?s consent is a clear violation by India of the international laws, practices and norms. It is beyond any Nepali's comprehension how a democratic country like India could have done so undemocratic a deed and brought woe and misery to thousands of Nepalese people living near the Nepal-India border.
Had New Delhi harboured friendly attitude towards the Nepalese people or had it not undermined Nepal's just demands and dues, such a huge afflux dam that dislocates thousands of Nepali villagers and inundates hundreds of thousands of hectares of arable land, would not have been possible. The callous attitude shown by India towards Nepal?s sensitivities and genuine grievances should come to an end and
an amicable solution to the problem posed by the Laxmanpur barrage must
be found. But, as things now stand at an advanced stage, this does
not look at all feasible.

India, under the Koshi agreement, has built a dam across the Koshi
river in Nepal for two purposes : it prevents floods in Bihar state during monsoons and it supplies much needed water for Bihar and the Ganges during dry season. But whenever India diverts Koshi water to prevent floods in Bihar, it submerges hundreds of hectares of arable land, destroys standing crops worth millions of rupees and
dislocates thousands of local people every year. This, New Delhi has not been able to resolve with Kathmandu even after four decades. However, India continues to control
the Koshi dam in its own way. Similarly, India has built a number of dams in its territory very near the border across those rivers which flow through Nepali territory causing untold misery to the local inhabitants on the Nepalese side of the border. This is a sheer violation of understanding reached between India and Nepal to consult one
another before launching any river project along the border areas. This apart, such river projects go against the international laws and practices.

The Laxmanpur barrage constructed by India within 300 meters of the
international border was undertaken without considering its effects on the Nepalese side of the border. Neither did India get the necessary approval from Nepal before the construction of this afflux dam. The study report shows it affects directly more than 15,000 local people in 33 villages, besides the inundation of thousands of
hectares of arable land. The other adverse effects of the dam remain
unidentified so far. The international law states "any country, if constructs such an edifice within eight kilometre that affects directly or indirectly another country, must get prior permission."

Within this, India cannot deny the fact that it has violated the relevant international laws and practices. It has done so time and again but Nepal has failed to take up the issue strongly with India or with the International Court of Justice at the Hague. Nepali Congress-led government cannot remain silent especially when the country?s vital interests are at stake. Nepal must take up the issue with the International Court of Justice at the Hague as this seems to be the only option left for a poor but proud
and fiercely independent country, Nepal. Perhaps this might make New
Delhi think twice before venturing into such ill advised projects.