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The Union Minister of Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad, called on the visiting Prime Minister of Nepal, H.E. Sherbahadur Deoba, here today and discussed with him matters of mutual interests between India and Nepal. The Railway Minister reiterated time-tested friendship including the free movement of people and trade between the two countries. In this connection, he mentioned that Bihar was very closely connected with Nepal, as the people of Nepal come to India mostly through Bihar. The Minister pledged to strengthen further India’s traditional ties and friendship with Nepal. The Railway Minister pointed out that a large number of rivers from Nepal pass through Bihar resulting in massive floods and consequential ruins in the state. In this connection, he said that to prevent such floods, a joint report for a 3000 Megawatt Sapt Kosi Hydal Project was under way for which an office has already been set up at Biratnagar in Nepal and the Government of India has granted Rs.29 crore for this joint report. The Minister also pointed out measures to prevent recurrence of heavy floods in rivers Bagmati and Kamla, a multi-purpose dam in each river was needed for which there should be joint survey report.
As for linking the two countries with rail and roads along the borders, RITES Ltd. has completed preliminary survey report for four railway projects out of five approved. In this connection, the needed survey could not be taken up in Nepal for want of necessary permission, which was still awaited, the Railway Minister said.
Both the leaders were happy to note that Inland Container Depot at Birganj in Nepal was fully functional with established rail link between India and Nepal upto that point.
Regarding Nepal’s request for additional trade transit route between Nepal and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Mumbai over and above the existing trade link via Haldia and Kolkata Port, the Railway Minister said India had no objection, but our economic experts were of the opinion that such requests would not be economically viable. Shri Lalu Prasad urged the Prime Minister of Nepal to expedite granting of citizenship to 30-40 lakh people settled in plains of Nepal to integrate them fully in the national mainstream in order to end discrimination against them including ill treatment being meted out to them by Maoist rebels.
The Railway Minister expressed his concern over the activities of Maoists in Nepal and reiterated mutual resolve of the two nations to strengthen rail and road link to tackle effectively such menace.
Responding, the Prime Minister of Nepal assured the Railway Minister that Nepal would provide all possible assistance to solve the problems arising out of recurrence of floods in Bihar. In this connection, the Prime Minister suggested quick appraisal of the proposed Sapt Kosi Hydal Project. He also said that multi-purpose dam on Bagmati and Kamla rivers would be considered actively. The Prime Minister further said that one of the reasons for major damages in the floods was siltation of embankments, for which the Royal Government of Nepal had undertaken major environmental projects in the Shivalik range. He also told the Railway Minister that along the border the surplus power available with Nepal could be transferred to Bihar. He also assured the Railway Minister that joint efforts by India and Nepal were on to tackle Maoist problem in Nepal. The Railway Minister assured the Prime Minister of Nepal that Jogbani-Forbisganj road would be repaired and restored to health soon.
Both the leaders decided that officials of the two countries would meet to resolve the problem of illegal sale of vegetable oils especially Dalda in Bihar.
The Prime Minister of Nepal also invited him to visit Nepal. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.
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