TRN Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 13

Major political party leaders have expressed their serious concerns over the Indian government’s work on Koshi embankments without consulting with the government of Nepal.

After Koshi river broke the embankment, Indian government had started to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) for constructing the dam. Now that the Indian side started constructing the dam, leaders of CPN-Maoist, UML and Nepali Congress have raised their voice against it.

They asked the Nepal government to revise the Koshi treaty signed in 1954 before constructing the Koshi embankment.

"Nepalese people are suffering continuously, since the day of signing of this and many other unequal treaties. Such treaties should be reviewed before starting work on Koshi and elsewhere," CPN-Maoist leader CP Gajurel said.

Addressing a programme jointly organised by the Federation of Community Forest Users’ Nepal (FECOFUN) and Koshi Concern Group in the capital on Thursday, Gajurel said that the government of India was shying from implementing the past agreements and treaties with Nepal.

"The government of India is encroaching Nepalese land along the border. These irresponsible activities should be stopped," Gajurel said adding," If the government did not take initiatives in this regard, people would stand against the activities."

CPN-UML central committee member Bhim Acharya also said that the Indian government was failing from the very beginning of the Koshi treaty.

"The country is now a federal democratic republic. The government cannot go against peoples’ aspirations," Acharya added, "The government should consult with local people before allowing work on the river banks."

Hydropower expert Ajay Dixit pointed out the need of utilising the opportunities from the Koshi deluge and to make a long-term plan to resolve natural disasters.

Central Committee member of the Nepali Congress Minendra Rijal said that the Treaty was not completely against Nepal and the government should make it more contextual through revision.

"Both the countries should be ready to revise the Treaty by correcting inequalities." Rijal said.