In a ceremony held today at Singha Darbar, Ambassador of India to Nepal Shri Rakesh Sood handed over a cheque of NR 8.36 crore on behalf of the Government of India to H.E. Shri Shanker P. Koirala, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources of Nepal for the construction of embankment along Bagmati river and for the protection works along Kamala river. India has long assisted Nepal in works relating to extension of embankments along rivers flowing from Nepal into India to control floods in Nepal and adjoining territories in India. In the first phase, assistance worth about NR 50 crore is being provided by India for extension of embankments along Lalbakeya and Bagmati rivers and for protection works along Kamala river. Subsequently, India has also committed to provide an additional NR 178 crore for the construction of 63km of embankment and associated protection measures along the Kamala river, for which the detailed project report has been approved.

This assistance is being extended, in accordance with the decision of the Nepal-India Sub Committee on Embankment Construction which held its last meeting on 7-8 May 2008 in Birgunj. In May 2008, India had provided NR 5.19 crore to the Government of Nepal for similar activity.

India remains committed to continue working closely with Nepal to further develop cooperation in water resources so that these contribute to development and prosperity of the two close and friendly neighbouring countries.