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India, Lanka may sign water MoU

26 Jan 2012 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) proposed by New Delhi to Colombo for the joint management of resources in the waters between India and Sri Lanka hasn’t found favour with the latter.

The proposed MoU put forth by New Delhi to Colombo had suggested that the two sides put in place an arrangement whereby “both countries can fish in a limited pool of water”, said sources.

It had also suggested joint aqua culture in these waters as well as the creation of an ecologically sustainable resource. Sri Lanka, however, does not seem inclined towards this draft MoU, said sources. The problem, it seems, is the reluctance on the part of the Sri Lankan side “to pursue a formal document with legal implications”.

India has also handed over a non-paper to the Sri Lankan side on the initiatives that could be taken by both sides to prevent incidents of harassment of fishermen. Issues involving fishermen of the two countries, who often stray into each others waters and are then arrested, were discussed in detail last week at a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries in Colombo. The joint mechanism currently meets once a year though it was proposed during the meeting that it meet once in six months instead.

During the joint working group meeting, it was decided that there be greater interaction and cooperation between fishermen from both sides so that they understand each other’s problems and find ways to avoid any confrontation.

Sources here said that the Lankan government has been very cooperative in assisting the Indian fishermen who get stranded at sea. They also said that India’s endeavour is to have a “safe, secure and sustainable” arrangement to make sure that the fishermen are able to carry out their work . (Source: The Asian Age)

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India, Lanka may sign water MoU

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