Balen must put the Himalayas on the table in Delhi
Summary
Balen Shah is urged to take Nepal’s Himalayan flood and glacier risks to Delhi, pushing India on upstream hazards, black carbon, and cross-border monitoring. The piece argues Nepal should seek grants, not more debt, for disaster recovery and long-term resilience.
Key Points
- Nepal’s flood and glacier hazards should be raised directly with India as a cross-border issue of water, trade and sovereignty.
- The article says Nepal must demand clearer financing terms, with loans distinguished from grants and upstream hazards assessed before new infrastructure is approved.
- It calls for joint Nepal-India monitoring, black-carbon reduction, and consideration of a new global institution for glaciers and permafrost.
- The writer argues that Balen Shah has the credibility to push the conversation beyond sympathy and declarations toward concrete agreements.
