Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Minister Kulman Ghising and Additional Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Munu Mahawar, held a meeting today.

During the meeting held at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal-India Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Sector, Power Trade and expansion of transmission line and progress in the projects being constructed with Indian government companies were discussed.

During the meeting, the leaders discussed a meeting of bilateral mechanisms of energy and water resources sector, sending water to Nepal through Mahakali Irrigation (third phase) canal, problems seen in the use of forest land of 900 MW Arun III and 669 MW Lower Arun Hydropower projects being constructed by Indian government companies, approval for export of additional power to India from Nepal and import of electricity during winter months.

On the occasion, Minister Ghising requested the government to make arrangements for importing electricity 24 hours a day in some months as permission has been granted only till the second week of January.

Kulman Ghising urged the government to provide necessary consent for exporting electricity to India’s competitors day-ahead and real-time market every year and not to take approval once it is approved once and to provide necessary consent to export additional 20 MW power to Bangladesh using India’s transmission infrastructure.

Informing that necessary coordination and facilitation were underway from the Ministry and Investment Board Nepal to address the problem seen in the use of forest land for Lower Arun and Arun III projects, he requested the authorities to provide additional assistance for the construction of the transmission line through Line of Credit of India’s Exim Bank.

On the occasion, Additional Secretary Munu Mahawar urged the Indian companies to help resolve problems facing the hydropower projects in Nepal. He said that India-Nepal electricity trade and expansion of transmission infrastructure have been gradually entering a new phase and a big success has been achieved.