Swaraj says Nepal is India’s top priority

India looks at building ground for Modi’s visit as Nepal dithers on Power Trading Agreement.

Sushma Swaraj arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, on Friday. (Source: PTI photo)

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday said Nepal is on the top of the Narendra Modi-led government’s priority. In a brief remark at the Tribhuvan International Airport on her arrival as a part of the three-day official visit, Swaraj said, “The fact that I am here within two months of the government formation shows the importance that India attaches.”

Swaraj, who arrived here on Friday evening in a special aircraft will on Sunday begin her official assignments that include co-chairing the Nepal-India Joint Commission that meets after a gap of 23 years and meeting top dignitaries including President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.

The visit apparently aims to create ground work for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on August 3. Sushma also has the onerous task of assuring the Nepali side that India will not lag in executing the promises, especially as Nepal is likely to demand implementation of the projects that have been lingering for long.

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A meeting of the technical committees headed by the joint secretaries of the Foreign Affairs Ministries on both sides had finalised agenda to be put up for approval before the joint commission on Sunday. However, a high-level meeting of the leaders of three major political parties in Nepal called by PM Sushil Koirala decided not to sign major agreements and projects as well as the Power Trading Agreement during Swaraj’s visit .

“Given serious differences among key political parties and partners in the government on Power Trade Agreement as suggested by India through a draft proposal, we will be needing some more time,” a former Nepal PM who participated in the meeting told The Indian Express. “We will rather want Swaraj’s visit to be the beginning of an exercise to build mutual trust and good will,” he said.

A high-level government source said the Nepal side will ask the visiting Minister for support to build a road in the Mid-Hill region, postal roads in Terai and model Hydro-Project on a time-bound basis so that enough “confidence and credibility” is earned by both sides to take up bigger projects in future.

Officials said it was decided in the joint technical committee meeting to have India extend support in digging of 20,000-deep wells and target providing irrigation to 50,000 hectares each year for a period of five years. Repair of Gandak Power House, construction of 132-KV transmission line along Katariya-Kusaha area and four river taming projects have also been approved in the meeting. The joint meeting also decided to set up the Pancheshwar Development Authority to facilitate work on the pending projects.