Today's power trade agreement with India a milestone: PM Prachanda

By TRN Online, Ramechhap, Jan 4: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has termed the formal signing of the power trade agreement between Nepal and India as a milestone in Nepal's energy export.

The agreement will bring about qualitative changes in Nepal's power trade, said PM Prachanda while inaugurating the administrative building of Sunapati Rural Municipality in Ramechhap.

An agreement has been signed between Nepal and India today on power trade amounting to 10,000MW in a decade.

Prime Minister Prachanda also referred to his India visit held in May when he and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi had agreed to increase the amount of electricity to be exported from Nepal to India to 10,000MW.

Meanwhile, RSS adds that: PM Prachanda expressed the hope that the long-term pact on power trade signed during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Nepal would help the country to make a significant shift in power trade. 

Sharing that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on exporting 10,000 MW of electricity to India in 10 years during his visit to India last year, PM Prachanda further said the signing of the long-term agreement has opened up avenues for power trade. 

"This is an achievement in itself. Doors have been opened for power trade with India and Bangladesh", he said, adding, "Electricity will also be exported to Bangladesh by using the Indian grid". 

On a different note, PM Prachanda said the ruling coalition has realized the need for national consensus to ensure the effective operation of the parliament and conclude the transitional justice-related works. 

"The incumbent coalition was not founded on tiny efforts. We are committed to consolidating the coalition", he said, adding, "However, a national consensus is necessary for some pertinent agendas. We want national consensus for smooth parliamentary operation and concluding remaining tasks of transitional justice". 

Saying that Sunapati rural municipality has made remarkable progress in physical development, he appealed to the people's representatives to focus on improving the status of service delivery, education, health, agriculture, tourism and employment sectors at the local level. 

Meanwhile, PM Prachanda, also the chairperson of CPN (Maoist Centre), said forms of revolution have changed with the peaceful transformation. At a programme organized at Bethan Panighat in Ramechhap, "We are still in revolution as it has not yet ended. But, forms of revolution have transformed". 

Chair Prachanda argued that the incumbent government was moving ahead with the priority of social justice, good governance and prosperity for the establishment of socialism. 

On the occasion, Prachanda had inaugurated the Martyr Monument.