(a) whether Bangladesh has sought assistance from India to construct a dam on Ganga and solve problem of arsenic in ground water;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether discussion is going on between the two countries for comprehensive regional cooperation; and
(d) if so, the details of the progress made in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)
(a) to (d) The Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh have been discussing issues relating to mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in the field of water resources including possible cooperation in the proposed Ganges barrage project in Bangladesh and in dealing with the problem of arsenic contamination of water. These issues also figured during the discussions held by Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty, Minister of State for Water Resources during her visit to Bangladesh in September 2000.