Satellite imagery allays fears of China's diversion of Brahmaputra waters

NEW DELHI: The government for the first time said on Thursday that India is using satellite imagery to track the movement of the Brahmaputra River following reports about China's plans to divert waters which could impact downstream countries like India and Bangladesh. Government officials said imagery has confirmed that there was no diversion as yet caused by China's Zangmu dam on the main Brahmaputra River, but admitted that Beijing is building other "smaller" dams on tributaries of the Brahmaputra.

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday met foreign minister S M Krishna over the issue and was provided the same assurance by Krishna. According to the government, while the construction of Zangmu dam had stopped the river temporarily, there were two channels on the sides that allowed the continuous flow of water. "There is no diversion yet as we have confirmed through satellite imagery and other information available with us. They are constructing smaller dams on tributaries of the Brahmaputra, but these too we are told are run-of-the-river projects," said a source.

Officials insisted that this time their clarification was different because they had ascertained facts on their own. "We don't just discuss or just trust...we also verify," the official said, noting that India has the satellite capability for the past three years.

As for plans being discussed in China to divert water in the upper reaches, officials said they did not want to answer "hypothetical" questions. Government officials sought to shift focus to Krishna's earlier statement that it was perhaps more important for states like Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to harness water properly.

Krishna told reporters after his meeting with Gogoi earlier in the day that China has assured India it is only building a run-of-the-river power project on the Brahmaputra in Tibet, and that it would not divert the river.

"So when this is the case, my earnest suggestion to the governments of Assam as also Arunachal Pradesh is they should go ahead and prepare the necessary project reports in order to utilize the Brahmaputra water to the maximum benefit of the people," he said, adding that the states should prepare a plan in consultation with the Planning Commission and other agencies.

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IED recovered from Kanchenjunga Express, defused

GUWAHATI: An improvised explosive device (IED) was reported to have been recovered from Kanchenjunga Express at the Guwahati Railway Station early Thursday morning. The IED was defused by the police, TV report said.

The bomb, which was said to have been planted inside a tiffin box, was found during a routine check in the train coming from Kolkata.

The IED found on the Kanchenjunga Express, which plies between Kolkata and Guwahati, is reported to be a powerful timer device.

Security forces are on the search to find any more such devices.

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Now, post office deposits come under tax net

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to monitor all deposits made under post office schemes and bring them at par with bank interest earnings, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified that income from post office savings schemes will be taxed from the current financial year.

By making it mandatory for individuals to declare investments in their tax returns, I-T department has brought all such deposits under its scanner.

A CBDT notification said a declaration to this effect has to be made in the income tax returns filed by an individual. Any income earned beyond Rs 3,500 annually in case of individuals and Rs 7,000 in case of joint accounts will be taxable, the notification said.

By setting a minimum limit of Rs 3,500 on interest earnings, the I-T department has exempted small depositors who get 3.5% interest. Thus, a small depositor with a maximum saving of Rs 1 lakh, and Rs 2 lakh in case of joint account holders, won't have to pay any tax.

Small and marginal farmers who generally invest in post office schemes would thus be exempt from the new levy. Tax will be applicable for only those who invest in post office instruments more than the prescribed limit.

"This is done to minimize and phase out tax deductions and exemptions," CBDT spokesperson Shishir Jha said. The government is slowly moving towards the Direct Tax Code which seeks to phase out tax deductions.

Interest earnings from bank savings account are taxed by the government. This will also bring post office earnings at par with earnings from banks. Post office deposits had swelled over the years both from small and large investors. All such deposits were going under the radar of the tax investigators. There was no mechanism to keep a check.

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