A much sought-after closed-door agreement was signed by India and Nepal on the massive Saptakoshi Multipurpose project on January 23, to initiate a joint detailed project report (DPR) study. But following the agreement, Nepal's opposition and media are flaying the government for not having taken them into confidence.
Ambiguity surrounds the exact benefits the two countries would avail of from the project which will focus on the building of two high dams. The Saptakoshi high dam is entirely aimed at energy production and water control purposes, while the Sankosh dam will siphon off water to the Kamala river through an approximately 19-km long tunnel for energy production and irrigation benefits to Nepal's plains.
Anand Bahadur Thapa, executive director of Nepal's Water Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), who signed the agreement on the nation's behalf, said that India "in fact, accepted 100 per cent of our demands for irrigation and navigation facilities in exchange for flood-control benefits". But experts on water issues observe that Nepal made ample sacrifices to achieve these benefits, beginning with stopping construction of 'small' high dams on the Bagmati and Kamala rivers, and handing over the relevant studies on them to India.
Experts also raise eyebrows on Article V of the agreement which they find "totally appalling and demeaning", as it allows for Nepalese officials on the DPR study to seek per diem allowances from the Indian government. Besides, they express doubts as to how Nepal will calculate its share of benefits if the country cannot open offices in India to monitor the total volume of benefits accruing in India. The WECS, however, defends the agreement stressing that it is not a final document and, hence, is subject to change.
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