The action plan and Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Pancheshwar Development Authority (PDA), expected to reduce power scarcity in the Himalayan country significantly, has been formulated at the Indo-Nepal secretary-level talks at the resort city Pokhara.
"The fifth meeting of Joint Water Resources Committee (JWRC) succeeded in giving a final shape to the action plan and guidelines of the PDA," Nepalese energy secretary Shanker Koirala, who led the Nepalese delegation, said yesterday after the completion of talks.
The Indian delegation at the talks that that began on Friday was led by water resources secretary U Panjiyar.
Koirala said that both India and Nepal have agreed to approve documents for PDA, paving the way for its formation.
"A two-tier body will be constituted for the authority, consisting equal numbers of officials from both the countries. We have agreed to set up the central office at Mahendra Nagar in far-west Nepal," Koirala said.
However, the project work will be handled from Kathmandu till the new office comes up, he said.
"This is a significant achievement in the energy and water resources sector in the country, and it is in accordance with our national interest," Koirala said adding the meeting was a milestone in the hydro power generation in the country.
The Pancheshwar hydro power project, proposed on the river Mahakali on Uttarakhand-Nepal border, will generate at least 3,300mw electricity and will facilitate irrigation.
The talks also decided to appoint PDA’s chief executive officer on basis of open competition.
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