A NEW BEGINNING WITH NEPAL
Why has this issue cropped up?
It is a long-standing tradition that Nepali Prime Ministers make Delhi the first foreign port of call after taking over. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli maintained the tradition during his state visit to India last week.
Nepal’s political transition
- Nepal’s political transition began nearly three decades ago when it adopted a new constitution in 1990 which ushered in multiparty democracy.
- However, stability eluded Nepal with a spreading Maoist insurgency. In the process, the gains of democracy were eroded.
- After a decade-long insurgency an interim constitution was introduced and the ground prepared for yet another exercise in constitution drafting.
- This seven-year exercise finally produced a new constitution in 2015. Nepal abolished its 250-year-old monarchy and emerged as a federal republic.
The souring of relations
India’s openly stated reservations on the new constitution in support of the Madhesi cause and the economic disruptions caused by the undeclared blockade had fuelled anti-Indianism in Nepal.
Contentious issues between India and Nepal
- review of the contentious 1950 Treaty,
- recruitment of Nepali nationals in the Gurkha regiments of the Indian Army,
- resolving the fallout of the 2016 demonetisation exercise which has left the Nepal Rastra Bank holding a stock of Indian currency,
- long-pending hydel projects like Pancheshwar,
- resumption of the SAARC summit process which remains stalled since 2016
Improving India-Nepal relations
- India should realize that just as for India, globalization offers new openings to Nepal too. China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative offers Nepal an option.
- For decades, India has been Nepal’s most significant development partner. Yet the pace of project implementation has been slow, leading to significant time and cost over-runs. For example, Integrated Check Posts (ICP) on the India-Nepal border, Motihari-Amlekhgunj cross-border petroleum products pipeline, etc.
- Mis-perceptions about the unequal agreements relating to the Kosi barrage and Gandak barrage have grown over the years preventing any development in this sector.
- Given that over 60% of the Ganga waters come from Nepal’s rivers the imperative for effective water management for both irrigation and power generation is evident, and yet this sector has languished for decades.
Conclusion
What is now needed is effective delivery on the pending projects, the remaining ICPs, the five railway connections, postal road network in the Terai and the petroleum pipeline so that connectivity is enhanced and the idea of ‘inclusive development and prosperity’ assumes reality.
Relevance : GS 2
