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.
