Kalapani

Why in news?

• Recently Nepal reiterated its position that “Kalapani in Uttarakhand is part of Nepal’s sovereign territory”.

More about the news:

• Nepal has raised the Kalapani boundary dispute during the recent Joint commission meeting with India in 2018.
• Dispute intensified in November 2019, when India published a revised political map after the reorganization of J&K, depicting Kalapani as the region of India.
• Nepal immediately issued an objection to the map. Nepal government released a map mentioning Kalapani -Lipulekh- Limpiyadhura as a territory of the Darchula district of Sudurpashchim province of Nepal.

About Kalapani:

• Kalapani is a valley that is administered by India as a part of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
• It is situated on the Kailash Mansarovar route.
• The Kali River in the Kalapani region demarcates the border between India and Nepal.
  • The Treaty of Sugauli signed by the Kingdom of Nepal and British India (after Anglo-Nepalese War) in 1816 located the Kali River as Nepal's western boundary with India.
  • The discrepancy in locating the source of the river led to boundary disputes between India and Nepal, with each country producing maps supporting their own claims.

Strategic significance:

• Kalapani is located at the China-Nepal-India tri-junction and is a strategically important area.
• So Kalapani was regarded as an ‘observation zone’ for troops. For example, by stationing Indian troops at Kalapani, India can observe the movement of the Chinese troops and push them back if required.
• Since 1962, Kalapani has been guarded by the Indian security forces.

About Kali River:

• Kali River/ Sharda River/Mahakali River originates at Kalapani in Uttarakhand.
• It flows along Nepal's western border with India
• It joins Ghaghra River, a tributary of the Ganges
• Hydroelectric projects in the river: Tanakpur hydro-electric project, Chameliya hydro-electric project and Sharda Barrage.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Kalapani territorial dispute is associated with India and which of the following country?

(a) China

(b) Nepal

(c) Bhutan

(d) Pakistan

Answer