India seeks details on Brahmaputra water reports

NEW DELHI: In the wake of reports that China may divert Brahmaputra waters, India on Monday said it has sought a report from its mission in Beijing and would take appropriate diplomatic steps after assessing the situation.

"We are trying to get more details both from the government and our mission and then depending upon the report that we get, we will be able to make an assessment and then take appropriate diplomatic steps," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told reporters here.

He was commenting on reports that China is considering plans to divert Brahmaputra waters from the Himalayas and this would affect India.

BJP was quick to react to these reports and demanded that if there is fresh evidence of China's intentions then India should immediately take up this matter with the neighbouring country.

"These reports are of real concern to India. Since the last two years there are reports that China wants to divert Brahmaputra waters from the Himalayas. If it is diverted we will have terrible environmental, ecological and real problems which will affect the economy of the whole region," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

The BJP MP had raised the issue in Rajya Sabha last year.

"Government had said it has taken up this issue with the Chinese authorities.... If there is fresh evidence (of China diverting the waters) then we must immediately take up this issue with China," Javadekar said.