China begins sharing crucial Brahmaputra data
In a step that signals improved relations between the neighbours, China resumed sharing data on the Brahmaputra river with India from May 15.
Officials aware of the development added that data sharing on the Sutlej river will begin next month. The information is important for predicting floods in river basins.
“China has started sharing the data on river Brahmaputra and will be sharing data on Sutlej from June,” said TS Mehta, commissioner, Brahmaputra.
The move indicates thawing of ties between the two countries after the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan province of China last month.
Upstream China shares the scientific study of the movement, distribution and quality of water data for the river. The flow data also includes rainfall, water levels and discharge with India during the monsoon months.
India had not received any hydrological data from China last year despite an agreement between the two countries.
When China stopped sharing river data after a stand-off between the two countries in Doklam last year, it had officially maintained that its hydrological stations were being upgraded. However, the information was being shared with Bangladesh.
Strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellany, who specialises in water issues, said, “Under the bilateral agreement between the two countries, China is bound to release hydrological data on Brahmaputra and Sutlej from May 15 till October 15 as India has already paid for the data. If China can stop the information despite India’s advance payment, they have made a point that they can do it anytime and India won’t be able to do much about it.”
Originating from Tibet, the Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers in China. It flows down to India from Tibet and later enters Bangladesh where it joins the Ganga and empties into the Bay of Bengal.
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