MPs express concern over pollution in Brahmaputra river

Members in the Lok Sabha today expressed concern over the contamination of the Brahmaputra river as they asked the government to take up the matter with China from where the river flows into India and inform Parliament about it. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the matter was of serious concern and assured the House that he will inform “the highest level in government” about it. Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) raised the issue of increased level of pollutants in the river, also known as Siang, which flows into Arunachal Pradesh from south Tibet in China before getting into Assam. He said some reports have blamed China for it and noted that the Arunachal Pradesh government has written to the Centre as its water was not fit for drinking. He asked the government to make public its discussion with China on the issue. Bijoya Chakravarty (BJP), who hails from Assam, also joined him and asked the government to take up the matter with China. She said a delegation, including her, had met home minister Rajnath Singh who had assured them that he would inform external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj about it. (PTI)