Security and water resource experts of Nepal and India have agreed to let the Rapti river flow freely without any obstruction, reports said.

In a meeting between Indian and Nepalese officials in the border town of Nepalgunj on Wednesday, the Indian side assured that the Laxmanpur barrage would not be closed during inundation in the Rapti river so as to let the water flow naturally, Kantipur reported.

A technical team of India’s Sarju Canal and the security chiefs of bordering Baharaich district asked the Nepali side to give prior information about the inundation to the Indian officials. Chief District Officer of Banke including police chief and officials of Water Induced Calamity Division represented Nepal in the meeting.

In the meeting, the Nepali side also reiterated their stance of allowing the water of Sutaili and Gandhaili stream to flow naturally. The natural flow of these two streams have been obstructed by the embankment built unilaterally by India, causing some 10 VDC’s of Banke district to submerge under water every monsoon. However, the two sides didn’t reach any understanding regarding this.