Date:25/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/25/stories/2008112555681000.htm

National

Pranab to focus on hydel generation

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee reached Nepal on Monday, on a first high-level political visit from India after the new government assumed power in Kathmandu.

Discussions will revolve round further cooperation in hydel generation and improving trade and commerce through better procedural and infrastructural facilities such as new rail and road links, especially between India and Nepal’s Terai areas.

Sources say Nepal is now more receptive to mega joint ventures for hydel power generation, citing the observations made by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) during his visit to Delhi in September and then to the Tehri Dam.

Apart from meeting government leaders Mr. Mukherjee will, during his three-day stay, interact with the entire spectrum of the political leadership outside the government and take soundings on where various parties stand on drawing up a Constitution before the present Constituent Assembly dissolves itself after a maximum of 30 months after having been sworn in.

The Minister will also hear them on major internal issues on which New Delhi believes there has not been much development. “Nepal has ambitious plans but it needs to build an internal consensus on these,” the sources said referring to the political contest between the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and other parties over accommodating nearly 20,000 United Nations certified fighters of its People’s Liberation Army.

Indo-Nepal treaty

India thinks that the coalition government in Nepal looks solid and appears to have the numbers on its side. The sources said the revision of the Indo-Nepal Treaty and the assurances given during Mr. Prachanda’s state visit, as contained in the joint statement, would also come up for discussion, with New Delhi agreeing that the pact is old and outdated.

“We need an honest exercise in revising it [rather] than a political exercise. Discussions on the issue should not be a touchstone for scoring political points,” the sources said.

Mr. Mukherjee will also visit areas bordering India which were affected by a breach in the barrage on the Kosi river.