Himal Press 
File Photo
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has stated that India does not have free rein in the selection and implementation of projects under its High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP).
Speaking at the meeting of the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Dahal said that decisions on projects to be implemented under HICDP cannot be made by India alone.
Nepal and India recently renewed an agreement to implement HICDP during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Kathmandu. Nepal agreed to India’s proposal to increase the fund size to Rs 200 million from the existing Rs 50 million. This decision has sparked controversy, with many expressing concerns that the programs could provide India with an opportunity to influence various strata of Nepali society.
“There is no need to take unnecessary tension as the Government of Nepal’s mechanism will regularly monitor project implementation and conduct periodic reviews,” Dahal assured. “If projects proposed by local units are selected for funding, they will need to provide counterpart funding of 5% in case of rural municipalities and 10% in case of municipalities.”
Dahal also said in the meeting that the agreement to export 10,000 MW of hydropower to India in ten years has opened the doors for long-term power trade between Nepal and India.
