Govt allays fears on diversion of Brahmaputra

New Delhi, Nov 30: The government today sought to allay fears of any diversion of Brahmaputra waters by China, saying the Chinese leadership had denied that there was any such proposal.

It, however, said that sharing of information with China on trans-border rivers was an ongoing process and as time progressed, future strategies could be evolved as per the situation.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour that the issue of trans-border rivers flowing from Tibet into India was discussed with Chinese President Hu Jintao during his recent visit here and both sides had agreed to set up an expert-level mechanism to exchange information on hydrological data, emergency management and other issues.

''The issue was taken up during the recent visit of the Chinese President to India. The Chinese side indicated that there was no such proposal under consideration,'' he added.

Referring to a media report about China building a dam to divert Brahmaputra waters to feed its Yellow River, the Minister said such reports and studies are published from time-to-time in international journals. The reports are sometimes reported by Indian papers.

The two countries had already set up a Joint Expert Group to exchange information on hydrological data on the Sutlej river after the Parichu lake incident which flooded parts of Himachal Pradesh last year.

Pointing out that there was possibility of such a danger to lower riparian States from upper riparian States, the Minister however, was non-committal on whether the government would forge a River Water Treaty, like the one India has with Pakistan (the Indus Water Treaty). He said there were institutional arrangements including an arrangement with the Chinese on Sutlej according to which both countries had set up an Expert Group which studied and exchanged information.

''We have a Memorandum of Understanding with China on Sutlej where we exchange information and hydrological data. This is an exercise which is continuing and as time progresses, we will see what is going to be done,'' he added.

He said 60-70 per cent of the Brahmaputra water came through Monsoon and 60 percent of the total length of the Brahmaputra (2880 km) was in Tibet.

The Minister said Parichu incident was due to an accidental landslide which had created an artificial lake. But now things were under control, he added.

UNI

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