India, Nepal to make joint flood efforts
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17/09/2008
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Asian Age (New Delhi)
BY RASHME SEHGAL
NEW DELHI
The Indian and Nepal governments have given the green signal to the construction of two mega dam projects to help rein in the tumultuous Kosi river. These two dams, called the Saptakosi and Sumkosi projects, will together provide 4,000 MW of electricity and will be constructed at a cost of Rs 40,000 crores.
Minister for water resources Saifuddin Soz and minister of state Jaiprakash Yadav met their Nepalese counterpart, Mr Bishnu Prasad Paudel, to work out the logistics for these mega projects. Another landmark project agreed upon will be the construction of the Pancheswar dam on the Sharada river, which is called the Mahakali in Nepal. This will provide 5,600 MW of power. Its construction cost will be around Rs 30,000 crores.
The detailed project report of the Pancheswar dam is expected to be completed within the next six months.
While both these mega projects will be undertaken jointly by both countries, the Naumure hydroelectric project expected to meet Nepal