Claiming that India and Nepal have one soul, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that both the countries should find a solution to flooding in parts of Uttar Pradesh caused by release of water from Nepal during monsoon.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Nilambar Acharya, and the Chief Minister here on Wednesday. Both also discussed other issues to strengthen the ties between India ands Nepal.

Acharya agreed that release of water from Nepal caused flooding in Uttar Pradesh but, he said, this was a natural disaster and both the countries should try to find a solution to it. “Both the countries can work together in the field of irrigation,” he said.

Yogi said that the Gandak High Level Committee had recommended drainage of water from Dhobaha drain, which is parallel to the Nepal Dam located in Navalparaasi in Nepal. He said the committee had also recommended construction of five bridges. 

Yogi said work on construction of a bridge on the drain was being done by UP Irrigation Department in areas adjacent to Nepal. The Chief Minister said that UP Irrigation Department was working to overcome the problem of waterlogging on the left bank of the Banbasa barrage of Nepal.  

Both the leaders also discussed steps to strengthening mutual co-operation between India and Nepal in areas including trade, religion, cultural, tourism. 

Acharya congratulated the Chief Minister for successfully organising the Kumbh Mela 2019. 

Yogi Adityanath said that India and Nepal had one soul and there relationship was ancient. “Indo-Nepal relations exist since the era of Ramayana when Lord Ram married to Goddess Sita. Every year a large number of Nepali tourists visit Ayodhya,” he said.

Yogi said to provide transport facility between India and Nepal, land had been acquired near Rupadiha check-post. Besides, he said, Lumbini-Dudhi road, which connects Nepal with India, was being widened on 66-km stretch from Kakrahwa side.

The UP government has also decided to develop Ram Janaki Marg. This route is proposed to be developed from Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram in UP, via Bihar to Janakpuri, the birth place of Sita in Nepal.

Acharya said that people of India and Nepal had a strong mutual and emotional connection. He said Nepal always considered India as its family member and the mutual trust and brotherhood between the two countries was strong.

Acharya said that to assist tourists of UP going to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the Nepal Embassy was considering to set up a reception and support centre at Simikot Airport. “Spiritual and religious tourism of both the countries is getting a boost,” he said.

The Nepal envoy said that to export medicinal herbs (rosin and turpentine) to Uttar Pradesh, transit pass and payment was required. He said Nepal wanted it to be allowed to export rosin and turpentine to UP without any payment. 

The Chief Minister gave and assurance to look into this issue.