New Delhi, April 29: India and China have signed an agreement for sharing flood-related hydrological data for Brahmaputra during the monsoon season. The agreement follows the renewal of an MoU between the two countries during the visit of the then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Beijing in 2008.
“India and China have signed the implementation agreement for operationalising the MoU on sharing flood-related hydrological data for Brahmaputra which was renewed during Pranab Mukherjee’s, the then External Affairs Minister, visit to China,” Water Resources Secretary Umesh N Panjiar said on Wednesday.
Under the agreement, China will continue providing flood-related data of its side of Brahmaputra during June 1-October 15 period each year till 2012. After 2012, both countries will have to renew their MoU and finalise a fresh implementation agreement. During this time window every year, the Chinese side will provide these hydrological data from three identified hydrological stations twice a day to India to help better manage floods.
Currently, China has a hydrological station for Sutlej river and three stations on its side of the Brahmaputra to provide flood-related data of both these rivers during the monsoon season.
—-Agencies