Kathmandu: The upbeat mood in Indo-Nepal ties was too good to last. Nepali politicians have once again begun blaming India for their ills, this time for the devastating floods that have killed at least 27 people and rendered thousands homeless.
Ram Baran Yadav, an MP from Koirala's own Nepali Congress party, raised the issue in the parliament on Monday, saying the dams built by India in the bordering areas had caused the large-scale inundation.
Hari Acharya, MP from People's Front Nepal, one of the seven parties in the government, told the house the Laxmanpur barrage on the Rapti river built by India "in contravention of international norms" had contributed to the deluge and urged the foreign ministry to take up the issue with New Delhi.
Nepal's largest circulated daily Kantipur on Tuesday reported that Nepal had sent a delegation to India to ask the government to open the gate of the Laxmanpur barrage and release the accumulated water and discuss the inundation issue.
Nepal's Minister for Physical Planning and Works Gopal Man Shrestha said his ministry was coordinating with the Indian side to assess the impact of the barrage.
Shrestha also told the house that rescue work was being done in tandem with Indian authorities who had been providing assistance. About 350 people living near the Indian border had been shifted to India for safety, the minister said.
The sharing of water resources has been a serious bone of contention between the two neighbours with Nepal often accusing India of unilateral construction and reneging on its commitment to provide water for irrigation.
Several hydropower projects discussed by the two sides have also remained stalled due to continued bickering.
As perverse weather afflicted Nepal for the second year in a row, the fertile plains in the east, known as the food bowls of Nepal, have reeled under drought while incessant downpours since last week have lashed five districts in the west causing two major rivers to flood and trigger landslides.
Accham, Banke, Bardiya, Doti and Baitadi districts are the worst affected with at least 12 deaths reported from Accham alone.
The swollen Rapti and Babi rivers have played havoc in the region, inundating thousands of houses, destroying property worth millions and displacing over 10,000 people.
Comments
0 comment