(a) whether it is a fact that Brahmaputra river water is getting contaminated day by day and if so, the details and the facts thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware that China interrupts the country’s water sources and has made dams on this river;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the action the Government has taken or is going to take in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) Water samples collected and tested by Central Water Commission (CWC) and North Eastern Research Institute for Water and Land Management (NERIWALM) during the month of November, 2017 and December, 2017 at Tuting and Passighat Hydrological observation sites on Siang river were found to be highly turbid in nature. Presence of Aluminium (Al)& Iron(Fe) was also found to be beyond the permissible limit for drinking water as per IS 10500:2012. Though, the contamination has reduced significantly over the period since December 2017, but it was still beyond permissible limit on 14/15 January, 2018 as per IS 10500:2012.
(b) to (d) Ministry of External Affairs has informed that the Chinese side has conveyed to us on several occasions that they are only undertaking run-of-the-river hydropower projects which do not involve diversion of the waters of the Brahmaputra.
Government, in close cooperation with various State Governments which are users of the waters of Brahmaputra River, carefully monitors the water flow in river Brahmaputra for early detection of abnormality so that corrective and preventive measures are taken to safeguard livelihood of peoples of these States of Union of India.
As a lower riparian State with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, Government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels, and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas. The issue was also taken up by the External Affairs Minister with the Chinese Foreign Minister during his recent visit to India on 11 December 2017.
Government intends to remain engaged with China on the issue of trans-border rivers to safeguard our interest, including through an institutionalized Expert Level Mechanism which was established in 2006.
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