Bhutan terms the water stoppage to Assam “totally baseless”

Web Desk

After media reports claimed that Bhutan has stopped supply of irrigation water to farmers in Assam, the Bhutan Foreign Ministry in its statement issued on Facebook, clarified that the charges are “totally baseless” and are “deliberate attempts” to create misunderstanding between the people of Bhutan and Assam.

“It is a distressing allegation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to clarify that the news articles are totally baseless as there is no reason why the flow of water should be stopped at this time. It is a deliberate attempt by vested interests to spread misinformation and cause misunderstanding between the friendly people of Bhutan and Assam.” the Bhutan Foreign Ministry said.

Even when the entire world is facing the COVID-19 pandemic, Baksa and Udalguri Districts in Assam continue to benefit from the water sources in Bhutan added the Bhutan government.

The foreign ministry has said since the lockdown, farmers of Assam have been unable to enter Bhutan to maintain the irrigation channels as is the usual practice and this has led to problems in water supply.

However, seeing the adverse situation faced by the farmers in Assam, the Samdrup Jongkhar District Officials have taken the initiative to repair the irrigation channels to ensure the smooth flow of water to Assam.