India agrees to halt embankment construction in Mahakali

By Our Correspondent,Darchula, Dec. 8: India has agreed to hold the embankment construction project being unilaterally built on the Mahakali River at the Nepal-India border in Darchula and allow the river to take its own course within 10 days. 

The mighty river was diverted towards Nepal following the construction of an embankment. In order to resolve the dispute after the construction of an embankment unilaterally by the Indian side, Nepali and Indian security officials, during a discussion held on Wednesday in Dharchula, Pithoragarh district of India, agreed to let the river take its own natural course within 10 days.

Nepal has demanded with India to remove the temporary structures in the river within 10 days, said Chief District Officer of Darchula Dirgha Raj Upadhyay. 

According to him, it has been agreed to return the river that is deviating towards Nepal to its previous course, to immediately remove the temporary diversions and structures other than essential ones, and to mobilise Indian manpower for the same. 

CDO Upadhyay said that the discussion with the Indian administration would be resumed after assessing whether the work is done as per the agreement within 10 days. 

It is said that the meeting had also discussed the issue of stone pelting between the locals on both sides of Nepal and India on Sunday and a solution to the problem.

Earlier on Tuesday, Nepal had sent a diplomatic note to India via its embassy in Kathmandu. 

Following that, the Indian officials had monitored the embankment construction work on Tuesday. Last Sunday, when local residents of Khalanga in Darchula resisted, four Nepalis, including a child, were injured when Indian citizens hurled stones from across the river.  It has been claimed that some people have been injured on the Indian side as well.