B'desh suggests joint approach on Brahmaputra water-sharing

Dhaka, July 7 (PTI) Bangladesh on Thursday suggested a
joint approach by co-riparian countries to address the issue
of sharing of the Brahmaputra waters in the wake of reports
that China was planning to build a dam on the river in Tibet.
"We have been talking about joint sharing of water
resources among countries of the region. I think there is now
an understanding among all neighbours of the region to work
together in this regard," Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu
Moni told a group of Indian journalists here.
Answering a question on the Chinese plan to build a
dam on Brahmaputra river in Tibet, she said "co-riparian
countries will have to act together on the issue but it is
going to take a long time."
Moni expressed the hope that none of the neighbours
would do anything which would have a negative impact on each
other.
Her remarks assume significance in the backdrop of
reports about the Chinese move to construct a dam on the river
Yarlung Tsangpo, as Brahmaputra is known in Tibet, and deep
concerns over its impact on water availability to northeastern
India and further downstream Bangladesh.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who is on a
three-day visit here, had said earlier that India was
monitoring China's activities on the river, but dismissed the
reports about a firm plan to construct the dam.
Reports also said China is planning to build a
run-of-the river project on Yarlung Tsangpo.