As tension between India and Nepal increases, Kathmandu has claimed land in Bihar, and erected barriers to stop Indian repair work of river embankments on the India-Nepal border, reported Zee News.
Nepalese authorities have stopped the officials of Water Resources Department (WRD) of Bihar government from carrying out embankment-related work on the border, claiming that the area is part of its territory.
The move effectively puts a stop to work done by India to prevent flooding of its low-lying areas, reported ANI.
Bihar, which shares over 700 kilometer-long international borders with Nepal, can be severely affected by floods due to Nepal’s action during the forthcoming rainy season as water from rivers coming from Nepal can overflow and wipe out entire villages.
Water Resources Minister in the Bihar government, Sanjay Kumar Jha on Monday told ANI that his government will approach the Ministry of External Affairs and apprise them of the threat posed by the situation.
Bihar had constructed the embankment over the river and had been carrying out fortification work every year ahead of the monsoon. According to the Minister they have never faced such objections from Nepal. And he added that it is for the first time that such behaviour is being observed from Nepal authorities.
Recently, the Nepalese armed forces deployed troops at the Indo-Nepal border, according to a report in India Today, in addition to building a helipad.
Tensions between India and Nepal have been on the rise after Nepal passed a bill that included in its political map, territories claimed by India. The (Second Amendment) Bill 2077, which was brought to include in the map of Nepal, Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani, was supported by all the 258 lawmakers present and voting in the parliament.
The territories are claimed by India, and Nepal government has said that they will ‘bring back the territory under Indian occupation for decades, at any cost’ even if the Himalayan nation has to ‘fight for it’.
Confrontation at the border has recently resulted in the killing of one Indian civilian, and injuring of four, when Nepalese forces open fire near the Bihar border.
The activities of the Indian Army have also increased and the Border Roads Organisation personnel can be seen continuously working on the newly built road which is critical for military purposes.
Indian Army chief General MM Naravane recently underscored the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries that have lately soured.
“We have a very strong relationship with Nepal. We have geographical, cultural, historical, religious linkages. We have very strong people-to-people connect. Our relation with them has always been strong and will remain strong in the future,” General Naravane recently said.
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