India and Bhutan have agreed to further strengthen cooperation on trans-boundary rivers, flood management and hydropower projects during a high-level bilateral meeting held in Thimphu this week, according to an official statement on Friday.
The discussions were led by V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, who headed an Indian delegation on a four-day visit to Bhutan from February 24 to 27.
The two sides reviewed ongoing cooperation on shared river systems and assessed the progress of the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project, being implemented in partnership with the Government of India.
At the Secretary-level meeting on Wednesday, both countries examined existing mechanisms for collaboration in flood management and forecasting. They also deliberated on modernising Bhutan’s hydro-meteorological observation network on trans-border rivers and improving real-time data-sharing systems for flood forecasting.
The talks additionally focused on capacity building, technical exchanges and addressing emerging challenges posed by climate change, including glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and extreme weather events.
Following the meeting, Rao called on Lyonpo Gem Tshering, Bhutan’s Minister for Energy and Natural Resources.
During his visit, Rao inspected the under-construction Punatsangchhu-I project and the recently commissioned Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project. He reviewed the progress of both projects in meetings with officials of PHPA-I and PHPA-II.
The delegation also visited the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology in Thimphu, the 3.5 MLD water treatment plant at Chamgang and a flood monitoring station near Wangdue Phodrang Dzong.
According to the statement, the visit was aimed at strengthening water resources management, flood forecasting and climate resilience in shared river basins, while reaffirming the two countries’ commitment to sustainable and mutually beneficial management of trans-boundary water resources.
-IANS
