India-Nepal agreed to negotiate on stalled hydroelectric projects

Kathmandu:
India and Nepal have agreed to resume and speed up talks related to three multipurpose hydroelectric projects. These three projects include Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, Saptakoshi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sunkoshi Storage Cum Diversion Scheme.
Local media of Kathmandu gave this information on Friday after a meeting of the Electricity Exchange Committee held in New Delhi earlier this week. According to Sandeep Dev, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Energy of Nepal, the upcoming talks will also focus on issues related to floods and irrigation.
Dev told Nepal’s leading daily ‘Kathmandu Post’ that the two sides agreed to call a sixth meeting of the Joint Expert Group to finalize the detailed project report of the Pancheshwar multipurpose project.
The two countries are in regular contact at various levels to resolve issues arising from joint projects. Nepal’s Energy and Water Resources Minister Deepak Khadka also came to India to participate in ‘Bharat Energy Week’ organized by the Government of India.
One of the largest focus areas in Indo-Nepal cooperation, hydroelectric projects have faced various challenges due to many issues.
The Sapt Koshi high dam project was a cause of dispute between the two countries over potential floods and impact on local communities in Nepal. In 2023, India and Nepal agreed to reduce the height of the dam. The purpose of this project is to control floods in Nepal and India and produce hydroelectrics.
The implementation of the Pancheshwar multipurpose project is the main point of the ‘Mahakali Treaty’ signed between the two countries in February 1996. The purpose of this project is to increase energy production and irrigation in India and Nepal.
In November 2024, during Khadka’s visit to India, the two countries agreed to accelerate hydroelectric projects and pursue cooperation in energy, water resources and other major areas.
Addressing the media, Director General of Electricity Development Department of Nepal, Nepal, Director General of Electricity Development Department, said, “The Government of India has agreed to pursue the Pancheshwar project and the Nepali side has developed the Arun-3 hydroelectric project being developed by the Indian company. Has agreed to accelerate the work related to land acquisition for it. “