The first-ever meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources between India and Nepal on Wednesday resulted in significant movements on two important issues — finalising the detailed project report of Sapta-Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme and setting up of Pancheshwar Development Authority by March 2013. The Sapta-Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project, with a potential to produce 5600 MW electricity after an investment of Rs 20,000 crore, was first mooted in 2004 but saw little movement since then. While Nepal has already prepared the terms of reference for the proposed project, India is yet to finalise its draft. The decision to set up the Pancheshwar Development Authority was taken by both countries under the Mahakali Treaty inked in 1996, but there has been little progress since then due to various factors and irritants. Announcing the highlights of the day-long deliberations, Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters that both countries would also look into the possibility of duty-free and seamless movement of equipment to Nepal for repair work of Gandak project. Bansal said the Bihar government had raised the issue of maintenance of Kosi embankments in a wildlife sanctuary located in Nepal and the two sides have decided to look into the matter. A breach in the Kosi embankment had caused major floods in Bihar in 2008. “After the floods a lot of work was done to strengthen the embankments. The Joint Commission has recommended that the maintenance of a 15-km stretch of eastern Kosi embankment be carried out by India instead of Nepal,” he said. The two sides also discussed the difficulties being faced in carrying out various works of Kosi and Gandak projects. The Commission directed the Joint Committee on Water Resources to look into the problems and come up with solutions. During the day-long meeting, Nepal raised concerns regarding payment of compensation for land and damage of crops due to floods and construction of the projects.