The eighth meeting of Nepal-India Joint Committee on Inundation and Flood Management (JCIFM) was held during 4th – 8th February, 2014 in Nepal.  The Indian delegation was led by Shri A. Paramesham, Member (Coordination), Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC), Government of India and the Nepalese delegation was led by Mr. K.P. Regmi, Director General of the Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention (DWIDP), Government of Nepal. The meeting included field visits to the ongoing and proposed embankment and flood protection works along the Kamla, Bagmati and Lalbakeya rivers. 

According to an Indian Embassy press release, India has been providing assistance to Nepal for strengthening and extension of embankments along Lalbakeya, Bagmati Kamla and Khando rivers.  With the present assistance, the total grant assistance already disbursed for embankment construction along these rivers, stands at NRs. 2917.68 Million, of which NRs. 374.680 million in December 2013, NRs. 256.947 million in January 2013; NRS 97.71 million was released in July 2012; NRs. 345.73 million in October 2011; NRs. 545.35 million in March 2011; NRs.599.78 million in 2010; NRs. 531.5 million in 2009, and NRs. 165.5 million was released in 2008. It is being considered to extend this assistance for construction of embankments to other rivers as well.

Cooperation in Water Resources and River Training are one of the most important areas of our bilateral relations and has immense potential.  It is estimated that about 250 small and large rivers flow from Nepal to India and constitute an important part of the Ganges river basis.  These rivers have the potential to become major sources of irrigation and power for Nepal and India, but without planning, are a source of devastating floods in Nepal’s Terai region, and states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India.