Kathmandu: As is known, Indian establishment possesses ready-made answers to Nepali allegations as and when it is made against the former.
This time the Nepali side expressed its concern over the Mahali Sagar issue and pat came a prompt reply that the plan itself have had a nod from Nepal in the year 2002 itself
“The design for the new escape was sent to the competent Nepalese authority for approval and it was so approved in December 2002. Shortly thereafter, the construction of the new gated escape was begun on the Indian side on the basis of agreed parameters”, is how the Indian side defends itself on the issue.
The Indian establishment in Kathmandu defends its case through a press release issued on 15 March and reiterates:
“The Mahali Sagar is a reservoir partly in India and partly in Nepal containing water of the Masai Nala. The parameters of the Sagar were mutually agreed upon in 1876 between the then Governments of India and Nepal. The reservoir has two escapes in Indian territory which allow the water to flow out – one gated and one ungated escape. The gated escape was damaged some years ago and a new gated escape was sought to be built. The design for the new escape was sent to the competent Nepalese authority for approval and it was so approved in December 2002. Shortly thereafter, the construction of the new gated escape was begun on the Indian side on the basis of agreed parameters.
As the Nepalese side had desired that more water i.e., 102 cumecs of water, should be discharged through the escape, the new escape was designed to contain 15 bays with the following agreed overall parameters:-
· Full reservoir level – 92.76 meters above mean sea level
· Crest level or level of the bottom of the regulator – 91.60 meter above mean sea level
Increasing the number of bays from the earlier 5 to 15 makes no difference to the extent and depth of the reservoir as that is controlled by the height of the escape which is unchanged. Construction of the escape was completed in April 2003. The laying of the slab above the escape is now in progress and it covers around 6 out of 15 bays. None of the gates have been installed on this structure so far. A representative of the Embassy of India has visited the site and verified these matters. The Contact Officers of the two sides have recently met on the site and verified the status of the construction.
Thus all the construction is being carried out on the Indian side in full view of the Nepalese side and with the approval of and under information to the competent Nepalese Government authority. At present, there are puddles of stagnant water on the Nepalese side in about 28 hectares of land of about 20 cms depth and in about 10 hectares of land in Indian territory.
During the non-monsoon or dry season, crops are raised extensively on the reservoir bed in the Nepalese side and at present, standing crops of wheat and mustard are to be seen on the reservoir bed in the Nepalese territory. Even in the monsoon season, paddy cultivation is practiced in large areas of the reservoir on Nepalese side as the amount of standing water in those parts is suitable for paddy cultivation. During the monsoon, the average depth of water in the reservoir is around 3.38 feet (1.16 m). No Nepalese village or habitation is within the limits of the reservoir.
The canal system from this reservoir provides irrigation to 158 hectares of land in Kharif season and 118 hectares in the Rabi season, on the Indian side.
There are 3 other sagars or reservoirs close to the Mahali Sagar which are governed on similar principles and under similar agreements as the Mahali Sagar. It appears that the Mahali Sagar alone has generated controversy because some of the land of the reservoir has changed its ownership around three years ago. Whereas this land was owned earlier by the former ruler of Shohratgarh on the Indian side, it was sold 3-4 years ago to persons living on the Nepalese side. The new owners, it appears, are trying to ensure that the reservoir is made non-functional so as to maximize their use of the land, which is already available to them for farming for 8 months of the year.
The Government of India believes that cooperation on issues of inundation and mutually beneficial use of water resources can only be achieved through informed discussion with the bilateral institutional framework established for the purpose. It is in this spirit that we intend to approach any existing or future issues that may arise between our two countries”.