The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation has stated that a new map of Nepal cannot be made with efforts of the Department of Survey alone.
Speaking in the meeting of International Relations Committee of the parliament to discuss the Indian construction of road to Mansarovar of China through Lipu Lekh on Sunday, Secretary Kedar Neupane said the map including Lipu Lekh and Kalapani can be prepared only if there were conducive environment.
"Many things have moved forward through the diplomatic channel. Our ministry only plays an assisting role," Neupane said when committee Chairman Pavitra Niraula Kharel asked what the ministry has done about the committee's previous instruction to issue a new map. "The Foreign Ministry is also working to create a conducive environment. The ministry is ready if there were environment to prepare map."
Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali is also attending the meeting of the committee that includes former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, former foreign minister Sujata Koirala, senior Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh and CPN leader Bhim Rawal among others.
Minister Gyawali read the statement issued by the ministry on Saturday in the meeting. He opined that such incident should not have happened at the time of COVID-19 pandemic. "This is an issue that remains unresolved right from the time of Sugauli Treaty. We are ready to resolve it," he stated.
