New Delhi: India and Nepal inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of a hydropower project in the Himalayan nation on Monday, May 16, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepal counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba, according to The Himalayan.
Modi assured the Himalayan nation of India’s support in the development of the local hydropower sector and in encouraging interested Indian developers to expeditiously explore new projects in this regard.
He was on a one-day visit to Lumbini, Nepal, on Monday to participate in the birth anniversary of the Buddha where he also held talks with his counterpart on bilateral matters. In all, six MoUs were signed between both sides which also touched upon cooperation in cultural and educational sectors.
The MoU for the 490.2 megawatts Arun-4 hydropower project, which would come up in the Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal, was signed by the executive director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kulman Ghising and the chairperson and operation manager of the Indian hydropower company Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam. The MoU comes in continuance of the agreement reached between the two countries during Deuba’s visit to India in the first week of April.
Also read: With Narendra Modi’s Lumbini Visit, New Delhi Wants to Give Impetus to India-Nepal Ties
Both prime ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress made in bilateral power sector cooperation in recent months, which covers the development of generation projects, power transmission infrastructure and power trade. Prime Minister Deuba invited Indian companies to undertake the development of the West Seti hydropower project in Nepal.
Speaking at a special ceremony held in Lumbini, Modi expressed happiness that he could visit the birthplace of Buddha. “While coming to Nepal, I have a different spiritual feeling than the political one,” he said in his speech where he occasionally switched to Nepali.
The visiting prime minister offered prayers at Maya Devi Temple accompanied by Deuba. Modi hailed the efforts of Nepal to preserve spiritual centers Lumbini, Pashupatinath, Muktinath and Janakpurdham.
Underlining the religious ties India and Nepal share, Modi said Lord Ram (Ayodhya) is incomplete without Sita (Janakpurdham). “I know that today when a grand temple of Lord Shri Ram is being built in India, the people of Nepal are equally happy,” he added.
On the other occasion, addressing an international Buddhist conference, Modi said, “India and Nepal’s ever-strengthening friendship and our closeness will benefit the entire humanity in the kind of global conditions that are emerging.”
Both prime ministers discussed ways to strengthen ongoing cooperation and develop new areas in the multifaceted bilateral partnership.
Although it was Modi’s fifth visit to Nepal since 2014, it is his first visit after relations between neighbours soured over the border. India-Nepal ties strained after Nepal’s former prime minister K.P. Oli-led government issued a new political map claiming that disputed areas in the Kalapani region as its own.
