The meeting of the Joint Review mission of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) started in Kathmandu this week to assess the project's progress and discuss its schedule, working environment, safety, security and funding shortfall. Representatives of all donor agencies are at the meeting with officials from the National Planning Commission, Ministry for Physical Planning and Works and Ministry of Finance. It is the first meeting since Norway decided to withdraw its assistance of $28 million. The RCCC detained former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and former Minister for Physical Planning and Works Prakash Man Singh for irregularities in the project deal. Norway is also participating. "We are convincing Norway to reconsider its decision as the project is making good progress," Sailesh Devkota, deputy team leader of the meeting told Nepalnews. (See: 'The Melamchi mirage', #263)