Kathmandu, July 12 - India's Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal Sunday wound up an inspection of the Kosi river in Nepal, and suggested a high dam as a permanent solution to frequent floods of the river that hit both countries.

The minister, who was personally sent by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure that the mighty Kosi does not wreak the disaster it unleashed last monsoon, Sunday inspected the eastern embankment of the river that was breached by swirling waters, killing over 1,000 people in southern Nepal and India's Bihar state.

The Indian delegation included Vincent Pala, the central minister of state for water resources, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Bihar's water resources minister, and senior officials.

It was a joint inspection along with Nepal's Irrigation Minister Bal Krishna Khand.

At a joint press conference here after inspecting the repair undertaken on the damaged embankment and the condition of the flood-affected people, Bansal said a high dam was a permanent solution to the periodic ravages caused by the Kosi.

India is mooting a 269-metre high dam that would, as a bonus, also generate 3,000 MW of electricity.

The Indian team has invited the Nepali minister to visit India and inspect one of the country's high dam projects, including the resettlement and rehabilitation of the displaced, for assurance.

Bansal said Khand could visit India next month.

India is allocating Rs.852 million for automating the operation of the sluice gates of the Kosi barrage, repair of launching aprons and construction of downstream and upstream pilot channels.