After the second meeting of the Joint Group of Experts (JGE)), the Joint Technical Team (JTT) was reconstituted with modified Terms of Reference (TOR).
The first meeting of the reconstituted JTT was held at Phuentsholing, Bhutan on September 13-16, 2010.
After visiting the vulnerable stretches in border areas, the JTT made recommendations on each of the TOR pertaining to assessment of sediment load and its impact on rivers, causes of landslides and causes of flooding, stability assessment and remedial measures, among others.
The Indian Minister in the Ministry Of Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal gave this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.
The recommendations of the reconstituted JTT were considered jointly in the third meeting of Joint Group of Experts held at Thimphu, Bhutan on February 07-09, 2011.
During the meeting, it was agreed that both the countries will integrate map of common rivers to the agreed scale of 1:50,000 in their respective territories and two sides will exchange the map for finalization in the next meeting of the JTT.
“It was inter alia agreed that assessment of the sediment load and its impact on the rivers Rethi, Pugli and Jainti will be taken up for assessment in the first phase,” said the minister.
He further stated that both the sides have also agreed short term and long-term flood management measures. As regards, the joint visit to Tsatichhu lake in Bhutan, JGE decided that there was no necessity to make a joint visit as the landslide dam seemed to have stabilized with free flow of water. “The JGE directed the JTT to decide on the various action points and studies in its next meeting that is scheduled in the month of September 2011,” he said.
India has a very long term strategy of Water Training especially in the high glacier source at Himalayas. This means India wanted to collect water from all the rivers that are flowing from Nepal and Bhutan and across at the boarder mouth, divert it’s course and make a manmade canal across North-South. Nepal showed many concerns due to the existing issues of high dams but Bhutan can be very well convienced. Unexpected heavy settlement of derbis, GLOF and its impact needs consideration and these are all underways.
The heavy water training project dealing with mega billions dollars is opposed by many ecological and environmental, aquatic and wildlife groups. Divertion from natural courses may be too disasterious.
And today, this whole section is termed as WATER POLITICS.
“Water Politics and Light politics” currently in discussion in Rajya Sabha should be in the spirit of long standing Indo Bhutan Friendship for a fair and mutual benefits of both the countries and the people as equal citizens at the receiving ends mindful of the manmade disasters, risks and its impacts on the environment we live.
Best of Luck
I thought P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S for Bhutan (overall) has always been made in the chambers of Indian ministers, parliament, the South Block and the RAW. It has and always been like that; not just now; not just on water.