Lok Sabha Question No. 2920 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-04
Subject: Black Water of Brahmaputra River
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: BHAGWANT MANN, SADHU SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 2920

ANSWERED ON 04.01 .201 8

## BLACK WATER OF BRAHM APUTRA RIVER

## 2920. SHRI BHAGWANT MANN PROF. SADHU SINGH

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has shown concern on the Brahmaputra water turning black and dir Ministry of Water Resources to find out its reasons and take appropriate action in this dir the details thereof;

(b) whether Assam has gi ven any assertive assurance in this regard and if so, the details there

(c) whether any survey in collaboration with China has been conducted to ascertain the re this; and

(d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTE R OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a)Yes, Madam.Accordingly, water samples were collected and tested by Central Water Commissio (CWC)  during  the  month  of  November,  2017  and  December,  2017  at  TUTING  and  Passigh Hydrological observation sites on Siang River and found to be highly turbid in nature. In a of  water  quality  tests  conducted  by  Public  Health  Engineering  an d  Water  Supply  Dept.,  Govt.  of Arunachal  Pradesh  from  samples  of  Pasighat  shows  turbidity  and  Iron  limits  in  excess  of limits. Beside this Physico -chemical analysis of water samples collected from Siang river across and Jonai conducte d by North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management (NERIWALM shows higher concentration of Aluminium and lron beyond acceptable and permissible limit f water.The  reason  for  change  in  water  of  river  Siang  may  possibly  be  because of any  land slide/earthquake/any other activity in upstream region of Tuting site across the internati China

(b)Water  Resources  Department  Assam  has  issued  necessary  directions  to  the  concerned  fi officers for collecting the water sample at weekly basis and conduct the testing of the Pollution  Control  Board  has  also  analysed  the  water  quality of  river  Brahmaputra  and  analysis  repor indicated high level of turbidity and flow of high silt into the river.

(c)& (d) No, Madam. However, during the recent visit of Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China to India on 11 December 2017, matters concerning trans - border rivers, including the recent repo about unusual changes in the water of Siang River, were raised with the Chinese side. Government has seen  media  reports  drawing  possible  linkage  between  the  recent  deterioration  in  the uality  of Siang/Brahmaputra  River  and  the  infrastructure  construction  activities  on  the  River  in regard, Government has noted Chinese Foreign Ministry's statements denying any such link and stating that the situation was caused by an earthqu ake in the region and was not a man - made incident. As a lower riparian  State  with  considerable  established  user  rights  to  the  waters  of  the  tran - border  rivers, Government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, inc ng at the highest levels, and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not activities in upstream areas.

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