The Centre has clarified that the Brahmaputra water is consumable.
“Water samples of River Siang from Tuting and Pasighat site of CWC were collected and analysed in water quality laboratories of CWC. The analysis report shows that all observed water quality parameters are within permissible limits as per BIS 10500:2012 drinking water standard except turbidity,” minister of state for water resources Arjun Ram Meghwal said.
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Meghwal further said results of water quality tests conducted by Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh from samples of Pasighat shows turbidity and Iron limits in excess of permissible limits.
Beside this, physico-chemical analysis of water samples collected from Siang river across Pasighat and Jonai conducted by NERIWALM shows higher concentration of Aluminium and Iron beyond acceptable and permissible limit for drinking water.
Earlier, turbidity has raised a fear psychosis amongst a section of people over “drinkability” of Brahmaputra water.
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“The Change in water level was also observed by CWC at Tuting and it was found that there was decrease in flow of water at Tuting site from November 18 to November 19 (about 1.96 meters in level and approximate 50 percent drop in water flow),” the minister informed in the Parliament on Thursday.
The reason for change in water of river Siang may possibly be because of any land slide, earthquake or any other activity in upstream region of Tuting site across the international border with China for which information is not available, he said.
“Exact Reason is not known as yet. During the recent visit of Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China to India in December, matters concerning trans-border rivers, including the recent reports about unusual changes in the water of Siang River, were raised with the Chinese side,” Meghwal said.
As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the river, government has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas, Meghwal said.