India plans hydel projects on Siang in Arunachal

NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding Beijing’s assurance that its hydel project on the Yarlung Tsangpo/Bramhaputra will not impact the river’s flow into India, the government may finally consider actively developing hydel projects on the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Yarlung Tsangpo is known as the Siang after it enters India in Arunachal Pradesh. This gives the Siang basin its strategic significance from an international point of view. Developing the Siang basin will help India counter Chinese buildup in the area and strengthen its negotiating position with China. India and China have no water agreements . Hence, there is no structured international convention under which India can appeal should its lower riparian rights be affected by the power projects on the Tsangpo river.

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh is understood to have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking him to call for a meeting of the ministries concerned, NSA and the state government to asses the situation and prepare a roadmap to harness the hydel potential of the Siang basin. Ramesh has assured the PM that his ministry would ensure expeditious forest and environment clearances for all projects on the Siang River without ignoring ecological concerns.