China plan allays India’s fears on Brahmaputra flow

NEW DELHI: Amid growing concerns about the 24 projects on the Brahmaputra river undertaken by Beijing and their implications for the lower riparian states like Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, the Yarlong Tsangpo Grand Canyon — considered the deepest in the world — that is being developed as a tourist attraction has come as a major relief for India. New Delhi is looking at China’s move almost as a guarantee that there is no immediate danger of losing 78 billion cubic metres (BCM) of Tsangpo water.

Earlier, China had declared that Yarlong Tsangpo Grand Canyon National Reservation would be established to showcase to tourists the wide biodiversity of the canyon which, being slightly longer than the Grand Canyon, is among the largest in the world and boasts of unique flora and fauna.

The announcement has allayed India’s apprehensions, which were heightened by earlier reports that China had conducted feasibility studies for a possible diversion of Tsangpo water elsewhere in the country to set up power plants. The river’s health near the Great Bend would be of paramount importance for the national reserve.

“Even though Tsangpo flows through China for more than 1500km, it is barely a trickle by the time it enters India . The 24 projects upstream are mostly for hydel power generation . There is no imminent danger of volume of Brahmaputra water being reduced. Moreover as they are beautifying the region near the Great Bend of Tsangpo and trying to popularize it as a tourist destination , it is also in their interest that the river remains in good health,” explained a senior government official.