Kathmandu [Nepal], November 12 – Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah may include India’s Uttarakhand state in his proposed visit to India, tentatively expected on November 22 as the two countries prepare to discuss key bilateral issues including hydropower, border concerns and tourism.
Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said Shah would be accompanied by Nepal’s Tourism Minister Khadkaraj Paudel, also known as Ganesh during the proposed visit. However, the final programme for the Uttarakhand leg and its official agenda have not yet been confirmed.
Maharaj said the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project would be a key issue in talks. The project, planned jointly by Nepal and India, has faced delays over arrangements for sharing its benefits. Once developed, it is expected to support power generation, irrigation and flood control.
Discussions may also cover issues along the shared border and a proposed dry port in Mahendranagar, according to Indian media reports.
Maharaj also highlighted opportunities to promote religious tourism by linking India’s Purnagiri temple with Nepal’s Siddhababa temple, as well as wildlife tourism cooperation between Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand and Chitwan National Park in Nepal.
The visit would be Shah’s first formal bilateral trip to India since his government took office, following his earlier UNGA trip.
