A senior Indian official has said a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) of India and Nepal has been set up to coordinate the work relating to inspection/restoration of missing/damaged pillars and resolving anomalies which have developed due to missing pillars, shifting of rivers etc.
Addressing Lok Sabha—the lower house of the Indian parliament– Minister of State for External Affairs of India, E. Ahmed said Wednesday that there are differences of perception between GGovernment of India and HMG/ Nepal on the alignment of boundary in Susta region along West Champaran (India) – Nawalparasi (Nepal) sector of India-Nepal border which has arisen due to natural change in the course of river Gandak over a period of time, according to reports.

The Minister added that the Indian government was aware of some recent reports of tension in the Susta area in connection with identification of the boundary. Appropriate measures, including through effective patrolling by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), are being taken to ensure peace and security in the area, he added.

Earlier, media reports said that SSB personnel visited the area and threatened local residents of Susta to vacate the area. Hundreds of local people had then approached District Administration Office of Nawalparasi urging the government to resolve the issue diplomatically. They later returned to their villages after SSB personnel withdrew from the area last week, according to reports.