In a significant step towards deeper bilateral cooperation, India and Bhutan have agreed to bolster collaboration on transboundary rivers and hydropower projects during a high-level meeting in Thimphu. The four-day engagement, led by V.L. Kantha Rao, Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, underscored the shared commitment to sustainable water management.
The Indian delegation, comprising officials from the Jal Shakti Ministry, representatives from Assam and West Bengal governments, and executives from WAPCOS Limited, engaged in comprehensive discussions. Key focus areas included the progress of the Punatsangchhu-I hydroelectric project, flood management mechanisms, and early warning systems for disasters.
Both nations reviewed existing cooperation frameworks for flood forecasting and management. Priorities emerged around modernizing Bhutan’s water-hydro-meteorological observation network, enhancing data exchange protocols, and building capacities to tackle climate change impacts, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and extreme weather events.
Secretary Rao’s courtesy call on Bhutan’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Lyonpo Gem Tshering highlighted the mutual resolve. Site visits to the under-construction Punatsangchhu-I and recently commissioned Punatsangchhu-II projects, along with the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) in Thimphu, a water treatment plant in Chamgang, and a flood monitoring station near Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, provided on-ground insights.
This visit reinforces India’s unwavering support for joint water resource management in shared basins. It aims to enhance flood forecasting, climate resilience, and equitable utilization of transboundary water resources, paving the way for mutual benefits and regional stability in the face of evolving environmental challenges.