Construction of dam by China over Brahmaputra will affect Northeast India: Tibetan PM Lobsang Sangay

GUWAHATI: Tibetan prime minister in exile Lobsang Sangay has warned that construction of dam by China over river Brahmaputra will have serious ecological and livelihood consequences in Northeast India.

Recently the $1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet is built by the Chinese government raising concerns in Northeast India.

Great Bend is referred to the place in Tibetan plateau where Yarlung Tsangpo(Brahmaputra in India) takes sharp "U" turn before entering India through Gogring village in Arunachal Pradesh. From the great bend which is at about 4000 meter above sea level, Yarlung Tsangpo travels about 70 km before the river enters India.

Speaking at the fifth All India Tibet Support Groups Conference in Guwahati on Sangay said that, "We Tibetans have been raising this concern for quite sometime now. China has admitted about dam construction. There is also talk of China’s plan to divert water from rivers in Tibet for significant number of population I China is facing shortage of fresh water, the diversion of water from rivers in Tibet is set to become a reality in coming days."

Asking New Delhi to be vigilant, he said that India must make its concerns on dam more pronounced.

He said, "Tibet is the source of 10 major rivers in Asia including Brahmputra. Assam and even Bangladesh is green because of Brahmaputra. Already Tibet’s glaciers where most of these rivers originate are fast depleting. There is deforestation and exploitation of water resources through dam construction and other activities. Downstream countries are going to bear the brunt of Tibet’s ecology destruction."