KATHMANDU, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Nepal and India on Sunday signed an agreement to set up Pancheshwor Development Authority (PDA) as a key step in the implementation of the much-anticipated Pancheshwor Hydropower project in western Nepal.

    According to eKantipur.com report, the agreement was reached between the two countries at the secretary-level talks that ended in western city of Pokhara, raising the hopes of Nepali people often forced to face the power-cut up to 16 hours during the dry season.

    At the end of the meeting, Energy Secretary Shaker Koirala, who led the Nepali squad at the secretary level meeting, said that an agreement has been reached to appoint PDA's Chief Executive Officer through open competition.

    Koirala also informed that both the countries will complete procedures for setting up PDA within next January.

    The secretary-level talks between the two nations had kicked off in Pokhara on Friday.

    16 top government officials from Nepal and 14 from India took part in the meeting.