Pancheshwar Development Authority to have Nepali CEO for first 3 years Statute of the authority also approved
KATHMANDU, Sept 24: Nepal and India have agreed to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project within a year.
A secretary-level bilateral meeting ended here in Kathmandu on Tuesday with both sides agreeing to give impetus to the mega hydropower project, which remained dormant for almost 17 years.
The meeting co-chaired by Energy Secretary Rajendra Kishore Kshatri and Indian Water Resources Secretary Alok Rawat decided to entrust the task of updating and synthesizing the DPRs prepared separately by both countries to Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS), an undertaking of the Ministry of Water Resources of India.
Speaking to the media persons after the meeting, spokesperson of the Ministry of Energy of Nepal Keshav Dhwaj Adhikari said that WAPCOS will synthesize the DPRs and may suggest further study if need be.
Energy Secretary Kshatri said that the DPR will cover details of cost, including the cost of resettling the project-affected people as well as other details such as the project target plan.
Once finalized, the DPR of around 5600 MW reservoir-based multipurpose project on the Mahakali River will not only give clear picture of the project, but also the tentative timeframe to commission it.
Likewise, the meeting has also approved a statute of the Pancheshwar Development Authority, which is implementing agency of the project. The authority will have its office in Kanchanpur district of Nepal.
According to the statute, Nepal will nominate a Chief Executive Officer to the authority for the first three years while India will send an additional CEO. The CEO and additional CEO will be appointed by both sides for a three-year term on rotating basis.
The nominations will be tabled during the next round of the secretary-level meeting slated for October in Delhi.
Other members for the authority will also be finalized during the upcoming meeting.
Speaking at the press meet at the end of the meeting on Tuesday, India´s Water Resources Secretary Rawat said that the project will set an example of mutual cooperation between Nepal and India.
During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi´s Nepal visit in August, there was a bilateral agreement to expedite the Pancheshwar project by carrying out the DPR within a year.
The final Terms of Reference (TOR) for the project was also approved during Modi´s visit.
Kshatri said that the project will be developed in line with the Mahakali Treaty.
Source : Republica
