Several trans-boundary tributaries of Ganga basin system like Sarda, Ghaghra, Rapti, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, Kamla, Kosi, etc. originate from Nepal. India has been consistently cooperating with Nepal for deriving mutual benefits like drinking water, power, irrigation, flood control from these rivers through various bilateral agreement and treaties. The related issues are discussed in the existing India-Nepal bilateral three tier mechanism comprising of (i) Joint Ministerial Level Commission on Water Resources (JMCWR), (ii) Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) and (iii) Joint Standing Technical Committee (JSTC).

Currently, the Flood Forecasting & Early Warning System on rivers flowing from Nepal to India is in place. Government of India is having regular dialogue with the Government of Nepal at various levels to mitigate floods caused by rivers coming from Nepal.

As a non-structural measure of flood management, flood forecasts are formulated and issued for rivers common to Nepal and India, namely Sharda, Ghaghra, Rapti, Gandak, Burhi-Gandak, Bagmati, Kamala, Kosi and Mahananda using meteorological and hydro-meteorological data available through the website of Department of Hydrology & Meteorology, Government of Nepal. These data are updated on hourly basis during monsoon season and are utilised directly in the 24 hour flood forecasts being formulated by Divisional Flood Control Rooms of Central Water Commission in Lucknow and Patna.

Government of India has been regularly interacting with the Government of Nepal for construction of dams on these rivers for mutual benefit of the two countries which includes flood control. Pancheshwar Development Authority (PDA) has been set up jointly by India and Nepal for execution, operation and maintenance of the Pancheshwar Multi-purpose Project on river Sharda. Survey and investigation work, including preparation of DPRs, of Sapta Kosi High Dam Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum- Diversion scheme in the Sapta Kosi basin in Nepal has been undertaken jointly by India and Nepal.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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AS

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