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The Agriculture, Energy and Water Resources Committee (AEWRC) of Nepal's Parliament on Sunday urged the government to sign the power trading agreement (PTA) with India at the earliest, lawmakers said.
The AEWRC members, during a meeting this afternoon, also expressed a serious concern over the postponement of the PTA issue during the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) that was held on Saturday between the two countries and asked the Nepal government to sign the deal to guarantee the national interest.
"Abiding by the international norms and practices, the PTA should be signed at the earliest with India and other countries by ensuring the benefit for Nepal and Nepalis by ensuring the national interest," reads the minute of the CEWRC meeting.
The minute paper also said without signing the PTA, the investment in the energy sector would be uncertain, therefore, in a bid to develop Nepal's energy market, it would be crucial to sign the pact with India.
AEWRC member, lawmaker Kashinath Adhikary sought clarification for the delay in pact signing, adding, "Even though Nepal had sent the PTA draft to India four years ago, it is so unfortunate that the agreement has not been signed still today."
Lawmaker Amrit Kumar Bohora, chairman of AEWRC, said given the necessity to sign PTA with India to enhance country's power development, the government should proceed ahead with proper planning and coordination among the government agencies.
Even though the Nepal government has decided to sign the agreement with India during the visit of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to the country in the first week of August, Minister Gyanwali said forging deal with India this time is also slim due to non-cooperation of the political parties.
