Nepal and India’s officials discuss to resolve embankment related dispute

Officials of Nepal and India have discussed the matter relating to disputes ensued on Sunday about construction of an embankment in the bordering area between Nepal and India.

The officials of both countries convened in the District Administration Office in Darchula on Monday to discuss the embankment being built by India.

On Sunday, the locals of both countries embroiled in a brawl and went on to pelt stones at each other when the dispute on embankment escalated. Over half a dozen locals of both countries were injured in the incident.

The locals at Khalanga in Nepal side on Sunday had sternly protested against India’s unilateral construction of embankment to divert the flow of Mahakali River.

The irate locals fear that their settlement could be at risk due to embankment.  They had demanded that the construction work be halted immediately.

According to Dirgha Raj Upadhyay, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Darchula, today’s discussion between officials of both countries centered on the embankment issue.

CDO Upadhyay urged both sides not to construct the embankment in such a way that incurs loss to both sides. Both sides agreed not to construct embankment immediately at the place where dispute ensued and construct only in the place where there was no dispute, informed assistant CDO, Hemanti Saud.

Present in the meeting were Chiefs of the security bodies and representatives of political parties from Nepal side while Indian side consisted Additional District Magistrates and Sub-Divisional Magistrates.

The Indian side has installed a gabion net some 7 to 10 metres from the site where the embankment was under-construction. The Nepali side requested the Indian side to remove the gabion net immediately.

The Indian side had been accelerating construction of the embankment for some days.