Hetauda (Nepal), Sept. 26: India and Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for better co-ordination in border areas, crime control and effective border management, especially in the wake of the forthcoming Assembly elections.

The document was signed at an India-Nepal district-level border co-ordination commi-ttee, organised here on Saturday. District magistrate of East Champaran Narmadeshwar Lal and chief district officer (CDO) of Parsa district Nagendra Jha, who led the delegation of officials from either side, signed the MoU. The meeting was presided over by Narmadeshwar Lal.The MoU exchanged on the occasion intends to facilitate understanding and co-operation between authorities of the two sides in border areas and help them deal with cases of encroachment, cross-border crimes, trafficking of human and drugs, besides movement of counterfeit currency notes.

It also aims to boost mutual understanding among security agencies of both the countries.

However, the MoU does not deal with any option to change or replace the civil laws and border control requirements of India and Nepal.

On several occasions, Nepal has expressed its concern at the prolonged land dispute with India over Thorhi (West Champaran) and the encroachment on Nepal land near Raxaul railway station.

Addressing the meet, Narmadeshwar Lal reiterated his commitment to amicably solve the problems being faced by both the countries.

His Nepali counterpart Nagendra Jha assured during his address that he would ensure crackdown on cultivation of ganja in Parsa district.

He also assured that his administration in Nepal would remain extremely alert to avoid any untoward incident during the Assembly elections in Bihar. Both the sides also expressed concern over polio cases which have remained a cause of concern for both the countries.Those present at the meet included consulate general of India in Birganj (Nepal), deputy inspector general, Champaran range, Umesh Kumar, district magistrate, West Champaran, Kumar Deo, police superintendent of East Champaran, West Champaran and Bagaha, namely Paras Nath, Nishant Tewari and Dr Siddhartha, senior deputy collectors Rajendra Mandal and Arvind Kumar, SDM and SDPO of Raxaul Jitendra Prasad Sah and Rajiv Ranjan.

A host of officials from departments like customs, forest and survey were also were present.