HP to urge Centre to have water treaty with China: Sat Mahajan

Shimla, Aug 25 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Sat Mahajan today said the Himachal Government will impress upon the Centre for having a water treaty with China.

Replying to a call attention motion by leader of BJP group in Assembly, P K Dhumal, he said the government was concerned about the apprehensions expressed by the BJP leader and was already in touch with the Centre for various measures.

Mr Mahajan said an Indian delegation, which included a senior official from Himachal, had visited China sometime ago in the wake of Satluj floods triggered by Pareechhu breach following which the two countries had signed an MoU to share the hydrological information.

The water discharge from a water reservoir constructed in the Tibetan territory, 110 kms away from the Indian border, was being monitored at five stations in Kinnaur and Shimla districts, including Powari, Khab, Nathpa and Rampur by the Central Water Commission, he said.

The Revenue Minister said the CWC, with the help of a US Aid project, was also working to develop a model for flood forecasting.

Earlier, Mr Dhumal, quoting extensively from media reports, expressed apprehension that the construction of barrage on Satluj in Tibet, may not only affect the hydel projects on the Satluj basin on this side of the border, but would also prove disastrous in case of floods.

He stressed on the need for a water treaty between India and China in view of the changed scenario.

UNI AS DP MIR PC2059