India, Nepal begin talks to build 5600 MW Pancheshwar project

The talks are a follow up of an agreement reached between both nations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Nepal visit last month to set up a Pancheshwar Development Authority within six months.

Updated on: Sep 22, 2014, 17:56:24 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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After many years of delay and uncertainty India and Nepal on Monday resumed talks to build the 5600 MW Pancheshwar multipurpose hydro power project.

The talks are a follow up of an agreement reached between both nations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Nepal visit last month to set up a Pancheshwar Development Authority (PDA) within six months.

It was also agreed that the PDA would finalize the detailed project report (DPR) of the project located on the Mahakali River in the Indo-Nepal border and begin work within a year.

India’s water resources secretary Alok Rawat and Nepal’s energy secretary Rajendra Kishore Chettri are leading the delegations for the two-day meeting----the first since 2004.

The Pancheshwar project was part of the 1996 Mahakali Treaty between India and Nepal. There has been lot of opposition to it from environmentalists citing vulnerability of the dam in an earthquake prone zone.

Besides addressing power needs, once completed the project it is expected to help irrigate large areas in north India and help mitigate floods.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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