Date:25/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/25/stories/2008082560021300.htm

National

Scope to revise treaties with India: Nepal

Prerana Marasini

KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Upendra Yadav has said there is a scope to revise the treaties Nepal has signed with India.

Mr. Yadav is scheduled to attend BIMSTEC’s meeting in India towards the end of August, where he said he would raise the issue of Koshi floods.

“The maintenance work had to be carried out in dry season but nobody [neither India nor Nepal] really thought about it on time.” He further said relief for the victims and a permanent solution to the problem would be sought at his meeting with the Indian leaders during the meeting of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.)

According to a treaty signed between Nepal and India, it is India’s responsibility to maintain the Saptakoshi barrage.

Citing the example of India where 24 employees were suspended by the government in charge of the negligence that caused the breach in the Saptakoshi barrage, Mr. Yadav said Nepal would also form a high-level committee to probe into the actual cause of the dam collapse.

On Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to India, he said, “It should not be taken negatively; China is our good friend and we should strengthen our friendship and make it productive.”