Submit your Article

Nepal and India have inked a long-term agreement on electricity today.  Secretaries of both countries signed on the document in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet.

With the signing of the agreement, the bilateral understanding to export 10,000 megawatts of electricity from Nepal to India in the next ten years has been materialized.

Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Gopal Sigdel and India's Energy Secretary Pankaj Agrawal signed on the agreement paper on behalf of their respective sides.

The bilateral understanding on electricity export was reached during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to India from 31 May to 3 June 2023.

During the visit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India's commitment to long-term electricity purchase from Nepal, and both nations reached a consensus on this matter.

The Federal Council of Ministers of India has already endorsed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard. The agreement was signed during the two-day visit of India's External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, which commenced today.

Following this agreement, various government and private entities in India will engage in power trade with Nepal through short-term, medium-term, and long-term contracts. Private sectors in Nepal can also participate in the import and export of electricity after completing the necessary procedures.

In a press conference organized in the course of Prime Minister Dahal's visit to India, prime ministers of both countries had commented that the issue of power export was historic and significant.

The government has already prepared an energy development strategy with an objective of producing 28,000 MW electricity in the next 12 years.

Of 28,000 MW power, a target has been set to export 15,000 MW electricity to different countries including India.

The private sector welcomed the agreement, citing doors for development of Nepal's energy sector would be opened after the agreement.

The government has set a target to bring quality change in the development of the energy sector by taking the private sector together.

Earlier, a delegation led by Indian Energy Secretary Agrawal paid a courtesy call on Energy Minister Basnet.

On the occasion, expressing happiness over the beginning of meaningful cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries, Energy Minister Basnet pointed out the need of taking it to further conclusion.

He shared that the agreement regarding exporting 10,000 MW electricity in next 10 years would take the relations between the two countries to a new height.

The energy minister urged to accelerate other projects and complete them on slated time, expecting Indian investment in large projects.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday.

Jaishankar, who arrived in Kathmandu to take part in the seventh Nepal-India Joint Commission, held a meeting with Prime Minister Dahal at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singhadurbar.

During the meeting, matters relating to bilateral relations and mutual interest, Nepal-India long-term power trade and implementation of agreements signed with Prime Minister Dahal during his India visit were discussed, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1,300 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 119, 500 per tola today.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 118, 950 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,420 per tola today.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel on Thursday.

Jaishankar, who arrived in Kathmandu to take part in the seventh Nepal-India Joint Commission this morning, had reached sheetal Niwas to meet President Paudel.

According to an official at the President’s Office, issues of mutual interest and Nepal-India relations were discussed in the meeting.

He is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal this afternoon.

An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale was recorded in Sindhupalchwok at 10:17 am today.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, the tremor with its epicenter in Sindhupalchwok was felt in Sindhupalchwok and adjoining areas.

Hari Prasad Aryal (23) of Syangja has died in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially informed Bodhraj Kunwar, Chairman of Waling Municipality-14, about the death of Aryal on Tuesday.

According to a family source, he went to Dubai after resigning from the Nepal Army almost after three years.

He had reached Russia from Dubai on October 20 and joined the Russian army after five days.

Aryal was in contact with the family members till December 5 and went out of contact since then.

Pritam Karki of Putalibazaar Municipality-5, Syangja, who had joined the Russian army, had also lost his life a month ago during the war.

The repair work of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project has reached its final stage. The destructive flood that occurred in the Melamchi river in June 2021 caused extensive damage to the estuary area of the project.

Senior engineer of the project, Padam Bahadur Kunwar, said 70 percent of the repair work of the estuary area of the project has been completed.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a delegation of stakeholders made an on-site observation about the work being done at the source of the Melamchi water supply project at Helambu Municipality-1.

On the occasion Senior Engineer Kunwar said work is underway to ensure water diversion according to the target of the government.

One of the members of the delegation, Member of Parliament Amresh Kumar Singh said that the government should give high priority to the Melamchi drinking water project and supply water to the people of Kathmandu throughout the year.

Secretary at the Ministry of Water Supply, Suresh Acharya, said that maintenance work is being carried out to bring water to Kathmandu in a sustainable manner.

Other members of the delegation included among others Chair of National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission Balananda Paudel, Fiscal Commission member Judda Gurung, Director General of Department of Water Supply Kamalraj Shrestha, Executive Director of Melamchi Water Supply Development Board Zakki Ahmed Ansari.

Minister of External Affairs of India S Jaishankar has arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day visit to Nepal at the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud on Thursday.

According to Amrit Bahadur Rai, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar arrived in Nepal to participate in the seventh meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission.

Foreign Minister Saud welcomed him at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will hold high-level political meetings today itself.

He will pay a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel at 11 am today.

After holding a meeting with President Paudel, he is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at 12 pm.

Jaisankar will take part in the seventh meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission to be held in Hotel Yak and Yeti at 1 pm.

Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will perform puja at Pashupatinath temple at 8 am on Friday and will return to India at 12 pm, it has been said.