Ahead of his visit to India, Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushkamal Dahal “Prachanda” has said he will take up the issue of long-term power trade with New Delhi, hoping that this “bottleneck” will be resolved and ensure that the Himalayan nation A favorable market for its surplus energy.
Prachanda, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will travel to India on Wednesday on a four-day official visit for talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and other leaders to further strengthen the age-old, multifaceted and cordial ties.
This will be the first bilateral foreign visit of the 68-year-old Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) leader after assuming office in December 2022.
The Prime Minister said, “There are some understandings with India related to energy, which is in the long-term interest of Nepal.”
“We will take up some issues related to long-term power trade with India during our visit,” Prachanda told Nepal’s national news agency (RSS), according to state-run Gorakhpatra.
Prachanda said that the Nepali people have been demanding this for many years. The Prime Minister said, “It is our realization that if we do not find a proper market for the energy after we start our production, then big investments will not come.”
“I think this obstacle will be removed during my visit,” he said, adding, “We hope that Nepal will find a favorable market.” Nepal on Sunday decided to allow India’s Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Ltd to develop a second hydroelectric project in the country.
SJVN is currently developing a run-of-river 900-MW Arun-III hydroelectric project located on the Arun River in eastern Nepal, scheduled for completion in 2024.
A meeting of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) chaired by Prime Minister “Prachanda” approved the project development agreement to be signed with India’s state-owned SJVN to develop the 669-megawatt (MW) Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project in eastern Nepal. Approved the draft Agreement (PDA). Nepal said in an official statement on Sunday.
“Our main concern for many years has been to create an environment for tri-country power trade between Nepal, India and Bangladesh.” He said an agreement in principle has been reached to supply 50 MW power to Bangladesh through the Indian grid.
In addition, I feel that my visit will pave the way for taking forward the matters related to trade and transit, which have been pending for the last few years, the Prime Minister said.
We will also move forward on matters related to the construction of dry port at Dodhra Chadani. He said that apart from these there are many issues, which we will raise in the national interest of Nepal.
“If we have any problem, we will have a constructive dialogue,” he said.
“Border issues are being raised at the level of the people and the future of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report. We will try to resolve these issues through diplomatic channels.
Prachanda said, “I think both sides are busy in homework for better results from my visit in the interest of both the countries.”
According to his aides, he met former prime ministers, foreign ministers and leaders of various political parties on Sunday and discussed matters related to his upcoming visit to India.
The Prime Minister said that he would also raise the issue of providing air route to Nepal during the bilateral talks.
“We are seriously discussing the issue of air route and we are looking forward to some positive outcome on this issue,” he said.
During his visit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President Draupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit Ujjain and Indore, Madhya Pradesh before returning to Kathmandu on 3 June. Foreign Minister NP Saud said he was confident of a positive outcome of the visit.
He said the visit would further strengthen bilateral relations. He said, ‘Our two countries have cordial relations.
“Keeping in view the energy market of Nepal, we will try to sign a long-term power agreement with India,” he said.
“During the visit, we will try to attract Indian investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector by investing heavily in construction of transmission lines, creating a conducive environment for its business. Saud told reporters, a favorable environment will be created to export power to Bangladesh through India.
“Since the Birgunj-Raxaul trading point has become very congested, we will discuss with India the opening of alternative trading points such as Nepalgunj-Rupaidia and Biratnagar-Jogbani,” he said.
Besides Foreign Minister Saud, the Prime Minister’s team will include Finance Minister Prakash Mahat, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala and Industries and Commerce Minister Ramesh Rijal.
“During the bilateral talks between Nepal and India, various pending issues including the boundary issue will come up,” Saud said.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,