ChinaToday
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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said China has assured that the hydro-electric project being build on the Brahmaputra River in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) would not harm India's interest and "we trust" its statement.
Singh said that while India trust China's assurance, but also verify it. "India and China are neighbours. It is in our interest to have best possible relations with China...We have been assured (by China) that nothing will be done that will affect India's interest," Singh said, intervening in the reply to a question put to foreign minister S M Krishna during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Singh said the construction of a dam at Zangmu on the Brahmaputra River in TAR has been repeatedly discussed with China. "We trust but also verify," the PM said.
While mentioning that the sharing of water of rivers, which are of inter-state importance can sometime cause problem, the PM said the matter should be allowed to rest with the assurance given by China. "Unnecessary provocation on either side can hurt relations," he said.
Replying to Opposition's apprehension that China is diverting the flow of Brahmaputra River by constructing reservoir, foreign minister informed that it is a run-of-the-river hydro-electric project that does not store water, and India is keeping a constant watch on it.
Krishna said the government was aware of the construction activity at Zangmu. India had taken up this matter with China during the visit to India by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in last December, he said.
"The government has ascertained that this is a run-of-the- river hydro-electric project, which does not store water and will not adversely impact the downstream areas in India," Krishna added.
We trust China on dam: Manmohan Singh - The Times of India
thank you for trusting us PM Singh
Singh said that while India trust China's assurance, but also verify it. "India and China are neighbours. It is in our interest to have best possible relations with China...We have been assured (by China) that nothing will be done that will affect India's interest," Singh said, intervening in the reply to a question put to foreign minister S M Krishna during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Singh said the construction of a dam at Zangmu on the Brahmaputra River in TAR has been repeatedly discussed with China. "We trust but also verify," the PM said.
While mentioning that the sharing of water of rivers, which are of inter-state importance can sometime cause problem, the PM said the matter should be allowed to rest with the assurance given by China. "Unnecessary provocation on either side can hurt relations," he said.
Replying to Opposition's apprehension that China is diverting the flow of Brahmaputra River by constructing reservoir, foreign minister informed that it is a run-of-the-river hydro-electric project that does not store water, and India is keeping a constant watch on it.
Krishna said the government was aware of the construction activity at Zangmu. India had taken up this matter with China during the visit to India by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in last December, he said.
"The government has ascertained that this is a run-of-the- river hydro-electric project, which does not store water and will not adversely impact the downstream areas in India," Krishna added.
We trust China on dam: Manmohan Singh - The Times of India
thank you for trusting us PM Singh
