India and Nepal to Deepen Ties

India and Nepal to Deepen Ties

India and Nepal have sought to review the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship to reflect current and existing realities. The decision was taken at an Indo-Nepal Joint Commission meeting held by MEA minister Sushma Swaraj and Nepali FM Mahendra Bahadur Pandey. The meeting occurred after nearly 23 years. This points to the urgent need for more meetings and interactions with our friendly neighbouring nations such as Nepal.

The JC also indicated that the Nepal India Boundary Working Group should commence field work at the earliest possible moment. The two sides also issued a joint statement indicating all of the Nepal-India relations should be renewed and improved so that the traditionally close relations between the two countries remains warm.

The Joint Commission was formed in the year 1987 at the level of the Foreign Ministers. The aim was to strengthen understanding and extend cooperation between the 2 nations. The joint statement of the two countries indicates Nepal supports India's stand for permanent membership of the UNSC. The 2 ministers also sought to find a mutually acceptable solution for Nepal's trade deficit with India. Both sides stressed a need to complete the formalities pertaining to the implementation of the Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement or BIPPA.

Both countries will also work on the implementation of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project for improving hydropower generation between the South Asian neighbours as per the joint communique issued following the meeting of the JC between Swaraj and Pandey. "The two leaders underscored the importance of harnessing the vast hydropower potentials of Nepal for mutual benefits. They directed the concerned authorities to finalise the text of a Power Trade Agreement at the earliest," the communique following the JC meeting states as per media reports. "While noting the finalisation of the terms of reference of the Pancheshwar Development Authority, they directed the concerned authorities for early completion of the DPR of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project."the communique further stated.

The Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project or MPM is a joint hydropower project to be developed by the two countries . This project has to be developed on the Mahakali river. Development of the PMP is a mutual interest project between the 2 South Asian neighbours and covered under the integrated Mahakali Treaty signed between the 2 countries. According to this treaty, equal sizes of underground powerhouses of around 3240 MV will be constructed on each side of the Mahakali river. The PMP will offer regulated water for irrigation to vast chunks of agricultural land in Nepal as well as India with flood control downstream. With the meeting between the 2 nations yielding productive results , bilateral ties between the 2 are set to deepen further.