Question : INDO-NEPAL BORDER DISPUTE

(a) whether Pulse Polio Team of India visiting Valmikinagar (Bihar) at Indo-Nepal border for inspection was stopped from entering into disputed Indian land by the Royal Nepal Army;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is taking any measures to resolve the border dispute;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether Nepal Government is doing barbed fencing on the disputed land besides airdropping the Nepali Royal Army on the disputed land;

(f) if so, whether the Union Government is contemplating to raise this matter with Nepal, and

(g) if so, the details in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) & (b) A Pulse Polio Team deputed by the State Government of Bihar visited Chakdahwa village near Valmikinagar, Bihar. After completion of its task, the team proceeded to Susta village, a territory disputed between India and Nepal, where it faced resistance from the residents of the village and were prevented from administering the vaccine. There are no reports indicating that the team was stopped by the Royal Nepalese Army.

(c) & (d) India and Nepal have established a Joint Technical Committee, with the objective of interalia resolving the differences of perception on the alignment of boundary in various segments. Government has reiterated from time to time to His Majesty`s Government of Nepal the need for an early resolution of the differences of perception and the need for maintaining status quo in the disputed regions pending resolution of differences of perception.

(e), (f) & (g) Government is aware of reports suggesting that iron angles and barbed wire were brought by the Nepalese security forces in the disputed Susta and this issue was taken up with His Majesty`s Government of Nepal. The Nepalese government has clarified that the armed police unit had not done any fencing or laying of barbed wires at the border, but has used the material for protection of its compound where a unit of Nepalese police has been stationed for a long time to maintain law and order and to check smuggling and other illegal activities.