Reacting to the the reports published/ aired in a section of media
Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MoFA) clarifies that Bhutan has not stopped the supply of irrigation water to farmers in areas in Assam adjoining Samdrup Jongkhar District as reported by there media outlets.
MoFA said that since 24th June 2020, there had been several news articles published in India alleging that Bhutan had blocked water channels which supply irrigation water to Indian farmers in Baksa and Udalguri Districts in Assam adjoining Samdrup Jongkhar District of Bhutan
the MoFA clarified that the news articles were totally baseless as there is no reason why the flow of water should be stopped during monsoon. According to MoFA it is a deliberate attempt by vested interests to spread misinformation and cause misunderstanding between the friendly people of Bhutan and Assam.
The MoFA release said that Baksa and Udalguri Districts in Assam have been benefitting from the water sources in Bhutan for many decades and they continue to do so even during the present difficult times when we are faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.
MoFA explained that the lockdown in India and closure of Bhutan’s borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Assamese farmers are unable to enter Bhutan to maintain the irrigation channels as was done in the past. However, understanding the difficulty that would be faced by the farmers in Assam, the Samdrup Jongkhar District Officials and the general public have taken the initiative to repair the irrigation channels whenever there are problems to ensure the smooth flow of water to Assam. The heavy monsoon rains and sudden rise in the water levels is posing serious challenges, but the Bhutanese authorities, including with heavy machinery, are on standby to clear any blockage and channel the water whenever there is a problem.
According to MoFA the Royal Government of Bhutan, particularly the Samdrup Jongkhar District authorities, has assured to make every effort to ensure that the disruptions caused by the monsoon rains to the irrigation channels are addressed without delay. MoFA however said that the Bhuran government had acknowledged a few delays in the flow of water due to disruptions caused by the heavy monsoon rains and the operational difficulties arising from the restrictions put in place by both the countries due to COVID-19. The MoFA release said that the Samdrup Jongkhar authorities maintain close contact with their counterparts in Baksa and Udalguri. Quoting Bhutan government the MoFA said that the people of Bhutan, especially those living along the borders of India, deeply value their age-old ties of friendship and cooperation with the people of India, particularly their close neighbors across the borders in Assam and West Bengal. “The people of Bhutan feel that such ties of friendship, cooperation and support must continue and be reinforced during these difficult times” the released said.
