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Kathmandu Tuesday July 31, 2001 Shrawan 16, 2058.
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Nepal asks India to halt
Rassiyal barrage construction
Post Report
KATHMANDU, July 30 – Nepal has formally
asked India to halt the construction of the controversial Rassiyal- Khurda-Lautan barrage,
just 200 metres from the Nepal-India border south of Lumbini, the birth place of Lord
Buddha.
Minister for Water Resources Bijay Kumar
Gachchhedar today informed the House of Representatives that such a letter has been sent
to India.
Giving a statement of public importance,
Minister Gachhedar said that Nepal was sensitive towards the issue and has apprised India
of Nepal’s concerns through the Foreign Ministry. "The government has given
serious thought to the concerns raised by the lawmakers. We have already requested India
to stop the construction of the barrage."
Gachchhedar also informed the House that a
technical team has already been sent to the Marchawar area to study the possible
consequences of the barrage on the Nepali side. The team is expected to submit its report
soon.
Speaker Taranath Ranabhat on Friday had, in a
ruling, asked the government to provide details about the barrage and its effect following
the lawmakers’ serious concern on the issue.
The 6-metre high Russiyal-Khurda-Lautan barrage
being constructed by India just 6 km south-east of Lumbini was the dominant topic again
Monday, with most of the members voicing their concern over the specter of inundation of
the birth place of Lord Budhha and many of the surrounding areas. Speaking in the House,
Minister Gachchhedar also defended the proposed hike in electricity tariff recently
announced by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), saying that it was done after
extensive study, discussion and analysis.
Citing the reasons behind the proposed hike,
Gachchhedar said that it was done so to meet the target of additional electrification and
to meet the conditions set forth by donor agencies. "The donor countries and the
agencies have agreed to invest in the Electricity Development Fund, Mid-Marsyangdi
Hydropower Project, Village Electrification and transmission lines. If we cannot improve
the financial conditions of the NEA, we may not be able to attract the investment."
The minister added "Although there is a
provision of increasing the tariff by a maximum 30 percent, the hike this time is not more
than 11.07 percent. In the 20 unit range, which most of the consumers use, the increase is
by only Rs 2.56. Some 50 percent of the total consumers fall in the 20-unit
category."
The Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission had
increased the rates on July 20 to be effective from August 17. This was done a few days
before the new government was formed.
Meanwhile, besides the barrage and the tariff
hike issues, the members of the House also drew the government’s attention to
gastroenteritis epidemic and flood havoc throughout the Kingdom.
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