China withholds data on rivers

India has not received hydrological data from China this year despite a bilateral agreement, the external affairs ministry (MEA) said on Friday, but maintained that it was “premature” to link it with recent floods in some parts of the country.

The development comes in the backdrop of the ongoing standoff between the troops of both countries in Doklam.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also did not confirm if Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to China next month to attend the BRICS summit, saying he does not have any information about it. Asked about the current status of the standoff, he said, “It is a sensitive issue... We will continue to engage with China to find a mutually acceptable solution. Peace and tranquillity in border areas are important prerequisites for smooth development of bilateral relations.”

However, when asked by when the standoff will be resolved, he said, “I am not an astrologer, so I cannot predict.”

Asked if China has shared hydrological data with India in the backdrop of floods in Assam, Kumar said there was an existing expert-level mechanism, established in 2006, and there were two MoUs under which China was expected to share hydrological data on rivers Sutlej and Brahmaputra with India between May and October every year.

“This year we have not received hydrological data from the Chinese side,” he said, adding that there could be “technical reasons” behind China not sharing the information.