POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, Jan 19 - An Indian delegation on the Naumure project led by S. Manoharan, additional secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, India, which arrived in Kathmandu Thursday, headed for the project site Friday. The delegation arrived in response to Nepal's proposal that India build the 207 megawatt Naumure project on grant, as promised recently by Indian authorities.

"The government of Nepal has asked India to build the Naumure project. The government of India has agreed in principle to consider the request and has sent an experts' team to initiate dialogue," said Jawed Ashraf, counselor of Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. "As a result of today's discussions, the two governments have decided to conduct detailed investigations to prepare detailed feasibility reports. The studies will be financed by the government of India," Ashraf added.

However, if the studies show that Naumure project falls in a fault line, some other project would need to be considered. "But there is a clear commitment to build a project for Nepal," Ashraf assured.

Naumure project site is located on the West Rapti River, at the border between Dang and Pyuthan districts. After visiting the project site, the delegation will arrive in Kathmandu on Sunday and leave for India on Monday.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 20 January 2007