RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3914
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.05.2013

NEED FOR A WATER SHARING TREATY WITH CHINA

3914. SHRIMATI KUSUM RAI:
SHRI KUMAR DEEPAK DAS:
SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR:
SHRI ALOK TIWARI:
SHRI ARVIND KUMAR SINGH:
SHRI PRABHAT JHA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the Hon’ble Prime Minister took up the issue of construction of three dams, across the Brahmaputra river on the Chinese side, with the President of China at Durban, recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether India needs a water sharing treaty with China in order to protect the interest of its people and land against devastation of the lower riparian region of India;
(d) if so, the action taken thereon; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) to (e) During PM’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 5th BRICS Summit at Durban, South Africa on 27 March 2013, PM raised the issue of trans-border rivers between India and China. As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the River, India has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities. India has called on China to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas.