"One land, two sovereigns " By C. Raja Mohan BHADRAPUR (Nepal) Dec. 25. "Small problems here often lead to big tensions between India and Nepal," says Bharatendu Mallik, the young and popular Mayor of this town on the banks of the Mechi River that has long defined Nepal's eastern boundary with India. A few years ago Mr. Mallik was in the thick of a national controversy, when the entire political establishment from Kathmandu descended here to denounce the alleged "Indian aggression" across the Nepali territory. A real difficulty was, of course, being blown out of proportion. As part of their effort to demarcate the Indo-Nepal boundary, joint survey teams came up with a new set of boundary pillars that defined the changed alignment. Some of the new pillars showed up in the campus of the municipal school here underlining the change of sovereignty at an important public place. A few Nepali farmers found that their lands now belonged to India. In some cases, there were two title deeds for the same piece of land, one from the local government here and the other from the government of West Bengal whose writ runs just across the river. Nepal certainly "lost" some territory here, but "gained" some elsewhere amidst the realignment of the boundary. That might look all right in the national capitals; but it poses huge problems for many on the ground whose life and land get caught in the vortex of shifting sovereignties. New Delhi and Kathmandu have agreed that until they sign off on the new boundary alignment, past arrangements should not be disturbed. That is easier said than done. Mr. Mallik's interest lies in preserving the interests of his constituents — who would want to hold on to their lands. *** Many sections of the Indo-Nepal border are along rivers. The earlier understanding was that the boundary ran along the mid channel of the river. But as rivers change course, there is continual shifting of sovereignties. The decision by the two sides to move towards fixed boundary principle, once and for all, was motivated by the determination to avoid future problems on the riverine boundaries. But as the two nations apply the fixed boundary principle on the ground, there will be many who will be affected adversely, at least this one time. The challenge for the two Governments lies in offering quick, fair and dignified compensation to all those who must adjust to the changed sovereignty along the border. *** Mr. Mallik takes us on a drive from his office to the river along a decent road built with Indian assistance and some local contribution. We walk across the riverbed to a bamboo bridge built on local initiative. "We want a regular bridge," Mr. Mallik keeps reminding the visitors. But as India steps up its visible assistance to infrastructure development on the Nepali side, questions come fast and furious from the Indians who want to know why New Delhi does not spend the money to improve conditions on its own soil. Across the Mechi river, we get onto a gravel road that divides West Bengal on the left and Bihar on the right. The border with Bangladesh is less than 20 km away. Yes, we have entered the famed Siliguri Corridor — a narrow strip of Indian territory that borders Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. For Mr. Mallik good roads and bridges on both sides, increased flow of commerce and unhindered movement of ordinary people are the answers to the long-term development of the region. *** Mr. Mallik has a long list of woes on how India and Nepal manage their separate sovereignties on the ground. On the banks of Mechi, there is a thatched hut that passes for a border check post. People crossing the border at this point are counted and names taken down. Mr. Mallik believes this new vigilance on the border is indeed necessary. But what he does object to is the increased harassment of people along the new check posts. In the name of security, people are asked to step out of the rickshaws and carry their luggage for nearly a kilometre. Questioning and checking are expected. But why make them walk? The Indian security unit tells us that is the way things have been; but do not know why. A common complaint on the border is about the corruption and harassment of people who have to drive across the border. Barriers, real and unauthorised, are everywhere collecting a "toll" in the open frontier between the two countries. If these large numbers of frequent visitors were counted as tourists contributing to each other's economy, the two Governments would be moving to simplify and assist the procedures for travel across the border. Today they have created a haven for robbers shaking the visitors for small change. *** There is a new problem in Nepal — the flooding of fake degrees and certificates from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Whole generations of Nepali middle class have studied in the schools and colleges of these two north Indian States. The racket in fake degrees has become an excuse for unreasonable officials in Nepal to harass even those who had obtained degrees from the Hindi heartland in the past when education there had a lot of credibility. News: The Hindu