Nepal Foreign Affairs (KATHMANDU, 13 August 2017) – India has denied executing Nepal’s request to open all the doors of Koshi barrage to prevent further damages.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs, Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Saturday requested India to open all the doors through the Indian ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri.
‘I have requested concerned side through Indian embassy to open all doors of Koshi barrage to prevent further loss of lives and properties,’ read Mahara’s yesterday’s tweet.
Mahara’s verbal request to Ambassador Puri came after a meeting of Home Ministry requested the Foreign Ministry to take diplomatic initiatives to open the doors of the barrage.
According to the sources, Ambassador Puri had responded Minister Mahara positively and assured the direction would be given as per the Nepal’s request. But after 24 hours, no more doors have been opened. No progess has been made despite the vocal assurance made by Ambassador.
The decision was made after water flow in the river reached dangerous level due to heavy rainfall for the past two days. Only 35 doors of the barrage are open now.
In sharp contrast to the DPM Mahara’s request, Min Bahadur Biswakarma, Commerce Minister on Sunday said all the 56 doors of the barrage can not be opened since that will have very adverse impact to Bihar. ”We can not open all the doors. If we do so, that can flush the Bihar” he said.