National

‘Centre should talk to Nepal over flood’

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday reiterated that the Central Government should initiate a dialogue with the Nepal Government for finding a permanent solution to the floods which ravage large areas of U.P. and Bihar every year.

Water released from the rivers in the neighbouring country was the main reason for the annual floods in eastern U.P. and Bihar, she said, accusing the Centre of dragging its feet on the issue, which led to a massive loss of lives and property.

Ms. Mayawati, who made an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas in Bihar on Friday, told newspersons at Patna airport that she had requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to hold high-level talks with his Nepalese counterpart for finding a permanent solution to the problem. Official level talks between the two countries would not suffice, she added.

She said under the Mahakali Pact of 1996 between the Indian and Nepalese governments it was decided to build the Pancheshwar project on the Sharda river, the Karnali embankment project on the Ghagra and the Namure/Bhalubhang multi-purpose project on the Rapti river. She regretted that no substantial progress had been made in the last 12 years.

Stating that Bihar and U.P. enjoyed close relations, the Chief Minister said she had come to share the agonies of the flood-hit people of Bihar.

Ms. Mayawati said all possible help would be provided by her Government to the flood victims in the neighbouring State.

She has appealed to the people to donate generously to the (U.P.) Chief Minister’s Calamity Relief Fund for the Bihar flood victims.

Ms. Mayawati has already donated Rs.11.16 crore for flood relief measures to the Bihar Government.

This includes Rs.11 crore on behalf of the U.P. Government, Rs.10 lakh from Bahujan Prerna Trust headed by her, and Rs.6.20 lakh made up of a day’s salary of IAS, IPS and Provincial Civil Service officers of U.P.

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