More Of Such Articles, Please!

Probably it is the first time that TRN published a long article—Nepal-India Relations, Water Resources’ Issues by Hiranya Lal Shrestha (TRN, July 20, 2000) in its feature page on water issues. No doubt, country’s abundance water resources have always been a hot issue of debate among the politicians and the political parties. None of the bilateral water treaties held between Nepal and India has been free from severe criticism within the country. And many people like me still do not know what goes wrong with all the water treaties and why many people go against such treaties. They seem to be often under the illusion that it is the duty of opposition parties to criticise such treaties. But the above mentioned article in your daily has ended such an illusion, thanks to Hiranya Lal Shrestha for his powerful article. The article clearly explains how Nepal has been unable to ‘share equal water from all the water treaties ranging from the Treaty on Sarada Barrage to Gandak Agreement to Mahakali treaty from her own rivers. For example, Shrestha points ‘the ratio of share of water between Nepal and India was 3:97 in the Gandak and Sarada Barrage agreement.’ What a sad fact that Nepal’s share is only three per cent of water from her own rivers.

Similarly the author has mentioned many other water-related incidents, for example how India tried to obstruct Babai and Kankai Irregation Projects. In fact, the article appears to be a brief but a complete history of controversial water treaties between Nepal and India. Really, the article is very good and interesting, probably the best on water issue.

I hope TRN will give priorities to articles written by experts and intellectuals like Shrestha in the days ahead.

Bikram Rayamajhi
New Baneshwore,

Other Story

• Weather Information To Mountaineers At Sagarmatha Base Camp