SHILLONG, Oct 24 - Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forest, Renuka Chowdhury today said there is no truth China is building more dams on the Brahmaputra river and that people mustn�t give in to �rumour-mongers.�
Speaking to the media here, Chowdhury said, �The situation is hypothetical and it is a sensitive issue (reports of China trying to build dams on the Brahmaputra for water storage). The Government of India will have to take a call on it,� Chowdhury, a senior Congress leader and former Union Minister, said.
Recently, China blocked a tributary of the River Brahmaputra, known as Yarlung Zangbo in the upper reaches flowing through Western Tibet, to construct a hydel project. China has stated that the blockade would be temporary and all its dams are run-of-the river projects.
However, the blockade was executed immediately after ongoing hostilities between India and Pakistan in which India has said that the Indus Waters Treaty, between Indian and Pakistan, would be reviewed.
The timing of the blockade also raised suspicion and subsequently several conflicting reports came. But China has reiterated that it has no intention to divert waters of Brahmaputra River.
�A lot of speculation happens, since it didn�t happen as yet, we must exercise great caution, so that we don�t promote rumour mongers,� Chowdhury said.
However, the senior politician added: �If and when this happens and when they (China) build dams on the Brahmaputra, India would have the answers.�
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary standing committee would be meeting tonight and discuss on the North East Space Application Centre (NESAC).
�We would like to understand about the budget of NESAC, how are they utilising the fund and have we achieved the goals with regards to the mandates,� she added.
On the floods in NE and NESAC�s inputs to minimise effects of such natural calamities on human lives and properties, she said, not just NESAC, but several other international organisations are collaborating on this
vital issue.
However, NESAC and others such organisation are generating important data to promote agriculture and understand the affects of climate change on human activities, flora fauna and exchange of information between differe
