Dhaka's concern must be addressed: Indian minister says on Tipaimukh project

Tawfique Ali, from New Delhi



India should address Bangladesh's concerns over the proposed Tipaimukh Dam on the river Barak, said Indian State Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh during an interaction with reporters at a regional workshop yesterday.

"Bangladesh's concerns over the proposed Tipaimukh Dam are quite obvious and they must be addressed," said Ramesh on the second day of a two-day South Asia Media Briefing on climate change organised by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Journalists from seven south Asian countries took part in the workshop.

Replying to a query during the question-answer session, Ramesh said, "We are ready to address the concerns over the proposed dam."

Three consecutive prime ministers of India had laid down the foundation stones of this project since 1996, but it is yet to be realised, he said.

Asked if the project exists, the Indian minister said, "The project does exist but not the dam."

JM Mauskar, additional secretary to the environment and forests ministry of India, said the clearance for the project on environmental ground was given after a 'drill' on the project.

"We have put the assessment on environmental impact and environmental management study on website," he added.