In a significant step for transboundary water management, the 11th meeting of the Joint Committee on Kosi and Gandak Projects wrapped up in Kathmandu after two intensive days on May 1, 2026. Starting April 30, delegates from India and Nepal addressed chronic issues plaguing these iconic hydropower and irrigation initiatives.
Bihar’s Water Resources Principal Secretary Santosh Kumar Mall spearheaded India’s team, complemented by federal experts. Nepal’s counterpart, DG Mitr Baral from the Water Resources and Irrigation Department, brought local authorities to the table.
Top priorities included Nepal’s commitment to evict encroachments from critical infrastructure: the 35-km Nepali stretch of Western Kosi Main Canal, barrage areas, embankments flowing toward the center, Valmiki Nagar Gandak Barrage, and western canal segments. Shifting power poles blocking canal flow was another win, set to streamline maintenance.
For Virpur’s eastern afflux bund, materials like sand, earth, and silt will fortify anti-erosion efforts in Kosi Vantappu before 2026 floods. GPS demarcation of leased lands, 24/7 access for flood-fighting gear, and vehicle speed controls at the barrage gained full support.
Nepal assured curbs on flood-time activities disrupting barrage functions, like timber harvesting and fishing. Local levies on project vehicles violated agreements, prompting enforcement pledges.
India’s call for drainage in waterlogged Nepali canal commands led to plans for joint inspections. Regular data sharing via email, satellite imagery, and centralized river flow management per operational manuals rounded out the agenda.
The outcomes signal renewed momentum for sustainable operations, reducing risks and enhancing resilience against Bihar-Nepal floods.
