Officials Discuss Management of Brahmaputra River (India)

Arunachal Pradesh and Bangladesh have discussed several measures for better management of the Brahmaputra river for mutual benefit, official sources announced.

Arunachal Pradesh Water Resources Development Minister Newlai Tingkhatra during a meeting with the visiting Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq A Khan discussed ways to tackle the problem of siltation through river dredging and building embankments so that proper water depth was developed for inland water transportation.

Khan advocated an integrated and holistic management of the flood problem in Arunachal Pradesh as well as the Brahmaputra basin, the sources said.

He also said that Bangladesh was equally concerned and apprehensive over diversion of Brahmaputra’s water in China.

“Arunachal Pradesh is the source of water for Brahmaputra basin and thus the primary stakeholder in all respects in the management of Brahmaputra in terms of hydropower generation and navigation,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by Bangladesh Commerce Minister Md Habibur Rahman Khan.

Later, the High Commissioner called on the Governor General (Retd) J J Singh at Raj Bhawan and discussed various matters including inland waterways, Brahmaputra River project and areas of prospective trade and commercial activities.

The governor emphasised on cooperation for mutual benefits, energy (hydropower) sharing, people to people contact and opening up of more avenues for economic opportunities.

Khan stressed on sub-regional cooperation. He apprised the governor of the proposed meetings on Brahmaputra and Ganga basins with India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, the sources said.

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Source: PTI, April 8, 2013