NEW DELHI, Oct 15 - Notwithstanding the uproar in Assam over commissioning of a mega hydropower project by China on the River Brahmaputra, New Delhi today downplayed the development, stating that if the need arises then India�s concern would be conveyed.
�We have an institutional mechanism with China. Beijing has been sharing hydrological data with India on Brahmaputra River, which has been found to be very useful. Now China has repeatedly assured us that they have no intention of diverting the waters of the river and that any other project that are coming up, including the present one, are run of the river projects,� said official Spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup replying to questions.
�We will continue to monitor the situation and if we feel that our concern needs to be conveyed to the Chinese side, we will certainly do so,� Swarup added.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had attacked the NDA Government on the issue claiming that the project is going to cause irreparable damage to Assam and other parts of the Brahmaputra basin.
In a statement, Gogoi had said that the Government of Assam has all along been taking up the issue with the Government of India on the reported move of China to build dams on the Brahmaputra since long.
�The Prime Minister perhaps did not take up the matter seriously, which is of vital importance to the people of Assam and Northeast.
�It is an utter failure at the highest diplomatic level to prevail upon China not to go ahead with the construction plan,� Gogoi had said.
