By Nirendra Dev
Beijing, Aug 27 (UNI) China has assured India that it will not do anything vis-a-vis constructions of dams in Tibetan and other regions that could adversely impact in terms of floods and related natural calamities in India.
"Our Indian friends be rest assured ....so far the water consumption in Tibetan region is concerned, the outbound water is clean and moreover whatever is happening in Tibet is for socio economic development and for consumption of people," Dr YU Xingjun, Consultant at Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, told a group of visiting Indian journalists here.
He sought to clarify that making use of water in Tibetan region is not necessarily for any other reason but for mere survival of the Tibetan people who are living in much hardships and under development conditions.
"The Chinese side has always maintained a responsible attitude to the hydro power development," he emphasised adding whatever development is happening with regards power projects in such areas is strictly for 'socio economic' development of the Tibetan people.
Dr Xingjun also said conditions of local inhabitants in Tibet are really precarious.
"I have been to such areas in Tibet many times and the conditions there are beyond imagination," he said.
Mr Xingjun was asked what is China doing to dispel apprehension of India especially with regard dam building areas in some rivers who flow down to India and could have adverse impact.
A group of Indian journalists are on tour of China as part of a programme organised by the Chinese embassy in India and the Chinese foreign ministry.
Dr Xingjun said that both India and China have over the years carried out fruitful cooperation in hydrological information and emergency and disaster handling.
To a question, he further went onto say that ".... proceeding from the overall situation of China-India relations and the spirit of humanitarianism, China has overcame enormous difficulties but did provide India with hydrological data of trans-border rivers in flood seasons".
This "fruitful cooperation" has made positive contributions to a closer development partnership between China and India.
He also said the hydrological data in flood seasons provided by China has helped India to ensure safety of people in coastal areas.
Answering questions, he said China is facing four main challenges in water management related matters.
These are floods or water related disasters, water scarcity, water-environment pollution and water ecology.
In this context, Dr Xingjun said in order to meet the challenges, the Chinese government is taking a multi-pronged measures.
He said, China has also decided to lay emphasis on 'saving water'.
"Rather than taking up grand development, we will adopt grand protection of water," he underlined.
Therefore, in many places projects are coming for water diversion from water rich areas to water scarcity areas, he said.
UNI DEVN TV 0730