Top governmental officials from Nepal and India in bilateral talks here since Monday concluded the negotiations agreeing to reconstruct the Koshi embankment and rehabilitate the flood victims by March next year.

They have also agreed to form a high level Joint Ministerial Level Commission on water resources to resolve water resource related issues as soon as possible. Before forming the JMLC, they agreed to form joint technical committee which would finalise things on reconstructing the Koshi embankment and shifting Koshi’s current course.

It is said that the meeting decided to extend by one year the deadline to study the causes of Saptakoshi embankment collapse. Same, is the case with Kamalamai dam.

Emerging from the three-day secretary level meeting, Nepal’s Water Resource secretary Shankar Prasad Koirala said, "The joint technical committee will submit its report and we will find out an ideal solution through discussion."

However, the meeting has not taken any decision about supporting the flood victims and compensation to them as well as providing additional aid for reconstructing the embankment from Indian side.

The officials also agreed to solving disputes in border areas. "The discussion ended with positive outcome. We agreed to solve all the issues jointly," Indian Water Resource secretary Umesh Narayan Panjiyar said.

The meeting also agreed to push much delayed Pancheshwor Multipurpose Project after forming the Pancheshwor Development Authority. Before completing the project the Indian government has agreed to construct 12 km long road from Brahmdev to Mahendranagar.

The meeting, which concluded signing a 12-point agreement, allowed to complete pre-field visit study of Naumure Hydropower Project within three months. A joint secretary level committee is to be formed soon for the filed study. Nepal government has asked the Indian government to study the possibility of using the water harnessed for Naumure Hydropower Project also for the irrigation in Nawalparasi district.

It is said that the meeting has decided to stop the construction of embankment in Mahalisagar while dam construction in Laxmanpur, Gandak and Mechi River will be completed jointly.

The next JCWR meeting is to be held in Feb 2009 in Banaras of India. The Committee supposed to meet every six months failed to hold meetings for the last four years.