Sign 'river waters treaty' with China, say NGOs

Shimla, July 12 (UNI) A conglomeration of NGOs has urged the Centre to sign ''river waters treaty'' with China to regulate the flow of water in the rivers originating from there or flowing through the country's territory.

''The construction of a barrage by China in Tibet is cause of concern and could have wide socio-economic environmental and security implications,'' Campaign Committee for National Himalayan policy's convenor and Chipko movement activist Kulbushan Upmanyu said at a press conference here yesterday.

He said devastating floods of 2000 and floods caused by breach in Pareecchu Lake were sufficient alarms and the state and the Central governments should remain prepared for any eventuality.

Mr Upmanyu said the committee was a joint front of a large number of non governmental organisations (NGOs), fighting for the cause of people displaced due to construction of projects and saving Himalayan environment and ecology.

The representatives of different NGOs strongly feel that one time compensation to oustees was no solution and they should be properly rehabilitated and guaranteed perpetual income from the project, he said.

Mr Upmanyu alleged that the ''environment impact assessment'' (EIA) conducted by various agencies was flawed as it did no take into account the depletion of resources of the area and rights of the people on forests and other land.

Mr Guman Singh, member of Nav Rachana, said the big hydropower projects were causing environmental and ecological degradation to large extent.

The people likely to be affected by Khab Saso and Karchham Wangtoo projects in Kinnaur district were agitating as the villages affected due to construction of tunnels for the projects were not included in proposed rehabilitation plans, he said.

UNI AS VA VP0915