India, March 14 -- A late February high-level meeting between the governments of India and Bhutan on trans-boundary water issues has decided that henceforth, adequate real time rainfall and river discharge data will be provided by Thimphu to the Government of West Bengal. The idea is to help the latter forecast and act on time to counter floods triggered by extreme rainfall in upstream areas of Bhutan.

An 11-member Indian delegation, led by Union Secretary V L Kantha Rao in the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (water resources), represented India at the talks. The group included a senior official from West Bengal's irrigation department.

The state government has...