Bhutan blames MLA for artificial water crisis in border paddy fields

KOKRAJHAR: The Bhutanese counterpart has expressed displeasure over the report of alleged diversion of a river in Bhutan to create water scarcity in paddy fields and said that a local MLA along Bhutan border was involved in the dirty politics. The Government of Bhutan maintained that some politicians in Assam used to play politics for their political benefits taking Bhutan river.

The Secretary general of Bhutan-India Friendship Association (BIFA) Ugen Rabten in a message to India said there was a political side story to the whole drama in Darangajuli area of Baksa district if BTC. He said existing BPF MLA Emmanuel Mushahary, from Tamulpur and former EM of Bodoland Deben Boro who have already shifted loyalty to BJP are hell bent to defeat Bijitgra Basumatary, currently contesting from Darangajuli as BPF candidate. He said both Emmanuel and Deben joined hands to influence the Samdrup Jongkhar officials of Bhutan to stop and divert the flow of the channel waters and instigated local cultivators to protest and hold Bijitgra Basumatary, responsible for the water crisis. However, Bijitgra Basumatary, somehow, managed to convince Bhutanese officials again about the crisis and the total dependence of the local people on the channel rivers for cultivation and got it working again. "Now it is solved. Emmanuel and Deben misused the goodwill of some Bhutanese officials. This is it la and thank you", he said adding that what he knew had some political inclinations and disharmony amongst the local community across the border in Assam. He also said what he learnt from some reliable source was that currently some prominent political parties working against each other are trying to discredit their political contestants from qualifying on the issue that he or she has not done anything.

Rabten said- "May be I am wrong but whatever said, situation right now is quite fragile firstly because it is pandamic time and there are certain protocols to be observed all over the world. BTC, Assam and Bhutan are no exception".

"Moreover, BTC is preparing for BTC elections and some people simply politicize the issue which could otherwise be resolved with a consultative process with BIFA as the bridge in between", he said adding that, Bhutan will never ever stop a river/stream flowing downstream. "Where are we to store the water and why should we? Wherever and whenever possible we dedicate ourselves to help the neighborhood", he said adding that recently, Samdrup Jongkhar district authorities in close coordination with Bhutan India Friendship Association (BIFA) members helped divert the water by repairing and cleaning the waterways to be properly channelized for the optimum benefit of our brothers and sisters in Neighboring Assam.

The matter is reportedly has reached to the Ministry if Home Affairs, Government of Bhutan. They expressed unfortunate over the matter where some Indian politicians tried to create misunderstanding for their political interest.

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