Exclusive: China hasn't shared river data with India since 2022, RTI query reveals
China has stopped sharing crucial hydrological data with India since 2022, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has revealed in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by India Today. The ministry said, 'No information on hydrological data or hydro structures has been shared by China with India since 2022.'This data is key for India's flood forecasting and water management, especially concerning the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers, which originate in China and flow into India. The information helps Indian agencies prepare for floods and plan infrastructure like dams and bridges.advertisementAccording to the ministry, the agreement between India and China on sharing hydrological data for the Brahmaputra river expired on June 5, 2023. A similar agreement for the Sutlej river lapsed earlier on November 6, 2020.
The Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between India and China on the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers were designed to facilitate the sharing of hydrological data, especially during the flood season. The Brahmaputra MoU, first signed in 2002, enabled China to provide crucial data from May to October each year, which India uses for flood forecasting and water management in the northeastern states. This agreement was renewed in 2008, 2013, and 2018, but it expired again on June 5, 2023, and has not been renewed since.Similarly, the MoU on the Sutlej river was first signed in 2005 to help India monitor water levels and manage flood risks in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. It was renewed in 2010 and 2015 but expired on November 6, 2020. Since then, China has not shared any data under this agreement either. While these MoUs are non-binding, they have been instrumental in enhancing India's preparedness for natural disasters and in managing transboundary river systems effectively.advertisementWhen asked why the MoUs haven't been renewed, the ministry declined to give any reasons, stating that the information is 'exempted from disclosure under Section 10(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.'The halt in data sharing is cause of concern as early warnings and coordinated data exchange are critical for disaster management in India's northeast and Himalayan regions.
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