India to push forward Nepal`s peace process

Shirish B. Pradhan

Kathmandu, Aug 16 (PTI) Ahead of Nepali Prime Minister's
crucial visit to New Delhi on Tuesday, Indian ambassador
Rakesh Sood met Madhav Kumar Nepal here and discussed
bilateral issues and underlined India's support to the
country's peace process.

During the meeting at the Prime Minister's residence
Saturday, they discussed issues relating to the upcoming
"goodwill" visit, according to the sources close to the
premier.

India has underlined the importance of its ties with
Nepal and seeks to help Kathmandu complete its reconciliation
process and frame the post-royal constitution.

Earlier, speaking at a function organised by Nepal-India
Friendship Society to mark the 63rd Independence Day, Sood
said Nepal, which is passing through a transitional phase, is
engaged in two important tasks of writing the constitution and
taking the peace process to its logical conclusion.

The envoy stressed that New Delhi wants to help Kathmandu
in whatever way it wishes in these two important task.

He also highlighted the need to boost economic
cooperations between the two nation. India wants to be a
partner in Nepal's development endeavour and as neighbours "we
can grow together and work together for the prosperity of our
people", he pointed out.

Sood said Nepal has abundant potentiality to generate
hydropower. He stressed that the development of hydropower is
essential not only for export to India but also for its own
development.

Pancheswor multiple-purpose project, which includes 6,000
MW hydropower, irrigation facilities, fishing project and
tourism promotion, will be one of the key issues that will be
discussed during the Prime Minister's India visit.

Speaking at a programme here yesterday the Prime Minister
said that Pancheshwor project is in the interest of Nepal.

Nepal's national interest can be served by constructing
the Pancheshwor project, he pointed out and called on all
political parties, including the Maoists to forge a national
consensus on the issue.

Meanwhile, Bijaya Gachchhadar, the Deputy Prime Minister,
has put his weight behind the multiple- purpose project and
called upon all parties to end the "political game" so as to
bring economic revolution in the country.

We should not lose the opportunity of developing
Pancheshwor and other projects in the pipeline, said
Gachchhadar, the president of Madhesi People's Rights Forum
(Democratic).

The Maoists have warned of a mass agitation if any
agreement on the Pancheshwor project is reached with New Delhi
during the trip.

Prime Minister Nepal along with Foreign Minister Sujata
Koirala, Minister for Energy Prakash Sharan Mahat and Minister
for Commerce Rajendra Mahato, would visit India from August
18. PTI