Nepal-India deals implementation jumpstarts under Narendra Modi

KATHMANDU, Sept 21:

The process of implementing the agreements that were reached between Nepal and India in the past used to be painfully slow. And many such agreements would remain unimplemented for years, leaving critics in Kathmandu to say, “India just promises, but doesn’t deliver.”

But with Narendra Modi assuming the post of chief executive of India, the situation has changed noticeably. The agreements reached between the two countries now are not only brought into implementation expeditiously but they are usually done within the set deadline.

The signing of the project development agreement (PDA) on Friday is one such example. In a joint press statement issued during Modi’s official visit to Nepal on August 3-4, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and his Indian counterpart directed the concerned authorities to conclude PDA negotiations between the Investment Board Nepal and GMR within 45 days for the development of the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydropower Project.

Likewise, the two prime ministers agreed to set up the Pancheshwar Development Authority within six months and finalize its detailed project report (DPR) within a year. An Indian delegation led by Water Secretary Santosh Kumar Gangwar has arrived in Kathmandu Friday to start fresh negotiations to finalize the authority’s statute, thereby paving the way for bringing the project into early implementation.

As per the agreement between the two countries to form a Border Working Group (BWG) to settle border disputes between Nepal and India during Modi’s visit, the first Nepal-India BWG meeting concluded Friday with an agreement to start ‘field work’ from early 2015 to undertake the construction, restoration and repair of boundary pillars, including clearance of no man’s land. The agreement was brought into implementation so early that the newly-formed bilateral mechanism is starting actual work after finalizing its own composition, the terms of reference (TOR) as well as composition and the ToR of its subsidiary bodies within six months of the agreement reached.

Foreign ministry spokesman Khaga Nath Adhikari agrees that the pace of the implementation of various agreements reached with India has improved lately. “All the agreements reached with India during Prime Minister Modi’s visit are already in the process of implementation,” said Adhikari, who also served as acting envoy of Nepal to India.

While India has already asked Nepal to come up with a proposal for the US$ 1 billion soft loan announced by Modi during his visit, India has also forwarded a draft MoU on the proposed Raxaul-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline to Nepal for the latter’s response. Also, the two countries have already started the process to revise the 1950 Treaty, form Eminent Persons Group, and sign a revised Rail Service Agreement as agreed during Modi’s visit.

Foreign affairs expert Prof Jayaraj Acharya says such a speedy implementation of agreements would not have been possible had the Indian political leadership not shown desired level of commitment to drive them forward. “India’s vigorous drive is pushing the implementation of these agreements so early. It appears that Modi wants to start a new age in India on both domestic and international fronts,” Acharya said.

Source: Republica