Nepal and India are holding consultations through various mechanisms for the latter’s cooperation in sectors including expansion of electricity transmission line, use of advanced technology and the extension of the petroleum pipeline in Nepal.

Ambassador of Nepal to India, Dr Shankar Sharma, said that India is positive on extension of the transmission line necessary for the export of 450 megawatts power from Nepal to India and discussions were being held for promoting commercial animal husbandry in Nepal taking hybrid animals from India.

Talking to a delegation of Nepali journalists at his office in New Delhi, Ambassador Sharma shared that a feasibility study would be conducted for extension of the petroleum pipeline from Amlekhgunj to Jhapa via Chitwan. The journalist delegation is in the Indian capital in connection to participating in the International Conference of the ongoing SAARC Journalist Forum at the Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida, India.

Ambassador Sharma said a meeting of the bilateral technical group should be held for additional air routes requested by Nepal and there should be an exchange of high-level visit and dialogue for resolving the outstanding issues remaining since long. Ambassador Sharma had held talks with the Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh recently in the context of a programme.

In the meeting, the Indian Home Minister had queried on Nepal’s new government and the latest political development.On the occasion, the Forum’s Nepal Branch coordinator Prakash Silwal briefed Ambassador Sharma about the agenda of the international conference entitled ‘Role of Journalists in Nation Building’.