[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 16 Referred in Senate (RFS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 16


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 12, 1997

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Concerning the urgent need to improve the living standards of those 
   South Asians living in the Ganges and the Brahmaputra River Basin.

Whereas some 400,000,000 people live in Bangladesh, northern India, and Nepal 
        near the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and their tributaries;
Whereas these people comprise the largest concentration of poor people in the 
        world;
Whereas this region lacks the resources, especially the infrastructure, that can 
        pull its residents out of poverty;
Whereas almost every year flooding by the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers produces 
        death and destruction, sometimes on a vast scale;
Whereas during the dry seasons, water supplies do not meet the needs of the 
        region's people, especially farmers;
Whereas despite these problems, the region has great potential for development;
Whereas Bangladesh, India, and Nepal have recognized for many years that the 
        water resources of the region, if properly managed, could contribute 
        greatly to the welfare of millions of people in the region;
Whereas the Governments of Bangladesh and India signed a 30-year agreement on 
        December 12, 1996, for the purpose of sharing the water of the Ganges 
        River; and
Whereas in 1996 the Governments of India and Nepal signed and ratified a treaty 
        enabling the joint development of the water resources of the Mahakali 
        River: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) congratulates the Governments of Bangladesh and India 
        for their recent agreement on sharing the water of the Ganges 
        River;
            (2) congratulates the Governments of India and Nepal on 
        their treaty enabling the joint development of the water 
        resources of the Mahakali River;
            (3) respectfully offers its encouragement for the three 
        governments to continue their cooperation which can do much to 
        relieve the poverty of those people living the Ganges and 
        Brahmaputra River Basin; and
            (4) urges international financial institutions, such as the 
        World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and the 
        international community to offer whatever advice, 
        encouragement, and assistance is appropriate to help in this 
        effort.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 11, 1997.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.