Tarun Gogoi thanks PM for taking up dam issue with Chinese Premier

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for taking up with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang the issue of construction of dams by China on Brahmaputra.

A release by the chief minister's office here said Gogoi was happy that the prime minister has taken up the matter 'in right earnest' with his counterpart yesterday and also with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of Durban BRICS summit in March this year.

The prime minister's 'bold stance' on the dam issue would allay apprehensions in the minds of the people of the state in particular and the North East region as a whole, the release said quoting Gogoi.

The release also quoted him as stating that he had voiced his serious concern over water flows of the trans-border rivers, specially in view of construction of three additional dams approved by China on Brahmaputra, during his recent meetings with the prime minister