Why in news?
Nepal PM is about to visit India.
What is the situation in Nepal?
- Nepal made a transition from monarchy to republic in 2006.
- Since then, there has been one of uncertainty with the country seeing almost 9 PMs being appointed in as many years.
- This has ruined the economy and paralysed the functioning of the government.
- The process of drafting a new constitution dragged for long for lack of consensus on critical issues.
What has been India’s Nepal policy?
- India played a critical role in bringing the Maoist insurgency in Nepal to an end in 2006.
- In the period thereafter, India was alleged of micro-meddling in Nepal’s internal affairs.
- Ex: New provincial boundaries were attempted to be demarcated according to Indian interests on behalf of the people of the plains (Madeshis & Janajathis).
- The border blockade in the Terai region in 2016, was also suspected to have the support of India.
- This attitude of interventionism has backfired of late and hence calls for a course correction.
- Chinese Influence -Following the 2015 earthquake, Nepal increasingly looked towards China for assistance.
- It is also now better connected to China through air & other intellectual forums than to India.
- The Nepal PM’s upcoming visit is an opportunity to set things right.
What are the areas of possible co-operation?
- Flood Management -Flooding in the Nepal plains that have also affected downstream areas across the border needs to be addressed.
- The Kosi Barrage and attendant embankments have the possibility of wreaking havoc because siltation of six decades has raised the riverbed within the levees far above the outlying tracts.
- While it is easy to demand a high dam in the hills of Nepal, it is important to study the other ecologically & socially sustainable alternatives.
- Power Purchase - Nepal has since long planned to sell electricity to India once it has a hydropower surplus.
- But the Indian government has directed that it will not allow import of electricity other than from power companies with more than 51% Indian equity.
- This has to be reviewed.
- Monetary & Financial Issues - Demonetisation and GST have affected Nepal’s economy.
- Assistance is to be provided for better adaptation.
- Border Management - There are border disputes pending between the two countries at Susta, Kalapani, and the ‘tri-junction’ of Lipulekh is another delicate point.
- The arbitrary blockages and the selective use of quarantine for the export of Nepali agricultural produce are issues of concern.
- A robust border management regime needs to be commissioned.
- Migrant Rights - The rights of migrant labours in both the countries is a topic that rarely comes up but could potentially get sensitive in future.
- Increasing high-handedness of the Sashastra Seema Bal (India’s frontier force in this sector) in dealing with Nepalese crossing the border needs to change.
Source: The Hindu
