India hasn’t received flood data from China: MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar

NEW DELHI: Even as India on Friday stated that it will continue to engage with China to find a mutually acceptable solution on the Dokalam standoff, it expressed disappointment over PLA’s recent transgression attempts in Ladakh and on not receiving hydrological data from Beijing till now.

“We will continue to engage with China to find a mutually acceptable solution,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told media on Dokalam standoff with China during his weekly press briefing. But he was quick to point out that attempts by Chinese soldiers to enter Indian territory in Ladakh were not in the interest of either side.

MEA also rued that it has not received hydrological data from China on Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers so far this year. It is understood that India has raised the issue with Beijing.

India has a bilateral agreement with China to share information on cross-border rivers which include Brahmaputra and Sutlej.

India also has an expert-level mechanism under which bothe sides meet regularly to discuss issues concerning cross-border rivers.

Under the data sharing arrangement, the Chinese side provides India data during flood season on Brahmaputra and Sutlej. This arrangement has been useful in preventing damage during flood season specially during landslides.

China has also blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet as part of the construction of its hydro project, which is causing concern in India.