Indian Foreign Secretary Misri calls on DPM Singh

KATHMANDU: Visiting Foreign Secretary of India Vikram Misri paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh on Monday.

During his second and last day of the two-day official visit to Nepal, the Indian foreign secretary visited the DPM at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar to discuss matters concerning urban development, waste management, restoration of cleanliness of Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers, and other sanitation-related issues. They exchanged views on the possibility of collaboration between the two countries in addressing these issues.

Taking reference to the ongoing Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission and the efforts to clean up the Ganga river in India, the Deputy Prime Ministers said India’s experiences in such efforts and technology used towards that end would be useful for Nepal. He called on India to collaborate with Nepal for the same.

Apprising the Indian foreign secretary for the inconveniences facing the Nepali citizens in trans-border movement between Nepal and India, the minister said Nepal wanted India’s facilitation to construct a suspension bridge over the Mahakali River, according to the Secretariat of Deputy Prime Minister Singh.

He thanked the Government of India for its support to Nepal’s infrastructure development, during the earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting also focused on exploring potential support from India to Nepal’s urban development sector, according to Urban Development Ministry’s secretary Maniram Gelal.

During the meeting, Nepal proposed India facilitate construction of bridges in rivers along the Nepal-India border to implement Nepal’s mission to replace tuine (rope bridges), he said. The Indian side is positive, he added.

The foreign secretary said India is always with Nepal in its endeavors aiming to achieve peace, stability, and prosperity.

He arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday at the cordial invitation of Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal.