Centre aware of construction activity on Brahmaputra River on Chinese side

GUWAHATI: Government on India has stated that it is aware of the construction activity on YarlungTsangpo/Brahmaputra River at Zangmu on the Chinese side.

Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Santosh Kumar Gangwar in parliament stated Government of India is aware of construction activity on the Chinese side which is a Run of the River (RoR) hydroelectric project.

Recently released ‘Outline of the 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China’ indicates that three more hydropower projects on the main stream of the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra River in Tibet Autonomous Region have been approved for implementation by the Chinese Authorities.

As these four projects are considered to be Run of the River (RoR) hydro-electric projects, any significant change on flow of water in the North-East of India is not expected.

The minister added Government of India monitors developments on the Brahmaputra River. As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the River, India has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels of the Government of the People’s Republic of China. India has urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas.

Some NGO’s in Assam had expressed concern earlier on the Chinese government’s hydro power projects on river Brahmaputra for it will affect the flow of water in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.