GUWAHATI, Dec 22 � The Government of India is yet to take a serious note of the possibility of China diverting the flow of the river Brahmaputra and though a high-level committee was formed way back in 2005, no action is yet to be seen on the ground to increase use of the water of the mighty river.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that whenever the issue of the possibility of China diverting water of the Brahmaputra comes up, the Government of India seems satisfied with the assurance of China in this regard. Sources admitted that it would be dangerous to believe China without keeping a close watch on the situation.
Sources revealed that large parts of China are facing severe water crisis for some time and the possibility of that country diverting the Brahmaputra to cater to the needs of the people cannot be ruled out. So far, China has constructed two run-of-the-river water projects on the Brahmaputra and the Government of that country has assured that it would not affect the flow of the river to India. But if China decides to divert Brahmaputra in the days to come India would not have any case as per the international laws.
Official sources said that as per the international laws, the users� rights of the lower riparian countries must be protected, but as India has hardly been using the water of the Brahmaputra, the country would have no case if China diverts the river.
Sources revealed that the Government of India formed a high-level inter-ministerial committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary in 2005 to deal with the issue, but nothing concrete has come on the ground so far. The committee, time and again, stressed the need for increasing the use of the water of the Brahmaputra to put up a case as per the international laws if China tries to divert the river. But the committee has not come up with a concrete plan as yet in this regard and most of the projects are still coming up on the tributaries and not on the main channel of the Brahmaputra.
