No proposal to sign water treaty with China, says Minister

Ruling out signing of any water treaty with China, the Government informed the Rajya Sabha that it would hold talks with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh on inter linkages among rivers.

Ruling out signing of any water treaty with China, the Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that it would hold consultations with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh on inter linkages among rivers for transfering flood waters from water surplus basins to deficit areas.

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"Presently, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government for any such water treaty with China in this regard," Water Resources Minister Arjun Chanran Sethi said during question hour.

He said the Himalayan Component of National Perspective Plan involved some link projects which required cooperation of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Sethi said the Ganga-Kaveri link proposed by former water resources minister K L Rao was given up as it was devoid of flood control benefit and required large block of power for lifting water.

To another question, he said the National Water Development Agency would complete the Detailed Project Report on inter-linking of rivers by the end of 2006.