The Government refuted recent reports in Indian media that claimed that Bhutan had blocked the water canals that supply irrigation water to farmers in Assam, India. Calling the news baseless in a press statement issued today, the foreign ministry said that it was a deliberate attempt by vested parties to spread misinformation and cause misunderstanding between the friendly people of Bhutan and Assam.
The foreign ministry said that this was a distressing allegation when Bhutan was making every effort to address all disruptions caused by the monsoon rains to the irrigation channels.
Concerned agencies and local volunteers in Samdrup Jongkhar have been engaged in maintaining the channels supplying water to Indian farmers downstream for the last three months, following the border closure and lockdown in India in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are 15 irrigation channels in Samdrup Jongkhar that supplies water to farmers in Assam.
Kinley Wangchuk
