9th JCWR meeting scheduled for Wednesday, bilateral talks to focus on embankment and Pancheshowr

Kathmandu; The 9th meeting of Nepal-India secretary-level Joint Commission on Water Resources (JCWR) is slated for Wednesday in Kathmandu. The three-day JCWR meeting is expected to address the issues related to the long-awaited Pancheswor Multipurpose Project (PMP).

According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI), the first two day meeting of the joint-secretary level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) will discuss the various aspects of the PMP. The final day meeting of JCWR will endorse the agendas approved by the JSC meetings. Shishir Koirala, joint-secretary of the MoEWRI will be leading Nepali team.

Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal, spokesperson of the MoEWRI, said the bilateral talks will focus on PMP construction, high dam of Saptakoshi, irrigation issues of Dodhara-Chandani and link canal connecting Sharada River and Tanakpur, among others.

The JSC talk will also focus on construction of West Rapti, embankment at Badganga and Khado Rivers and bridge across Rohini River of Kapilvastu district. On the third day of the JCWR meeting, MoEWRI Secretary Sagar Kumar Rai and his Indian counterpart will finalize the issues.

Last time, the 8th meeting of the JCWR was held in New Delhi, India, on January 9-11, 2019. It is in the last three years and eight months that the 9th bilateral meeting in the segment is being held.

Earlier, the 7th JCWR meeting was organized in Kathmandu on January 24-25, 2013. Similarly, the 6th was held in New Delhi on November 24-25, 2011.

Although the 8th meeting also held discussion over water level that Nepal was supposed to receive from Mahakali River, supply of water in Chadani and Dodhara areas, and construction of a high dam at Saptakoshi River, it went inconclusive. Nepal has long been putting forth its concern before India to receive a certain water level of the Mahakali River. But both sides have not reached any common consensus till date.