NEW DELHI - India and
Bhutan on Thursday agreed to step up cooperation in the
study of the depletion of glaciers in the Himalayan
kingdom, which has huge potential for generating
water-resource revenue for Bhutan.
The issue was
discussed at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman,
Planning Commission, K C Pant and a Bhutanese delegation
led by Foreign Secretary Dasho Ugyen Tshering. Official
sources said the two sides agreed on the need to
cooperate in closely watching the depletion of glaciers,
particularly to see if the same was periodic or on
account of global warming.
Pant pointed out that
water resources and tourism are two areas having immense
potential to generate revenue for Bhutan and hence the
government should pay adequate attention to these areas,
an official release said. He said revenue from
hydroelectric power generation could be deployed for
social development programs.
Briefing Pant on
Bhutan's ninth plan, Tshering said convergence of
institutional changes and developmental process would be
the thrust of the plan. He added that decentralization
of economic activities for balanced growth and checking
regional diaparities would be the areas of focus for the
government.
