flow control? China starts a mega-dam project on Brahmaputra in Tibet; How will it affect India
China on Saturday started building a large dam on the Brahmaputra River in Southeast Tibet near the border with India. Chinese premiere Lee Kiang attended the groundbreaking ceremony, the news agency AFP reported local media. The project was approved by Beijing in December and is being linked to China’s carbon neutrality goals and development goals in the Tibet region.
“The power will be sent to other areas mainly for consumption, while also meets local electricity requirements in Tibet,” China’s official news agency Xinhua said after the ceremony at Ningchi, a nearby area of Arunachal Pradesh.Also read: ‘Our border is with Tibet, not China’, Arunachal CM Pema Khandu draws a sharp line on sovereignty; Conditions planned Brahmaputra Dam a ‘Tping Bomb’ According to Xinhua, construction will include five hydroelectric stations with an estimated investment of 1.2 trillion yuan (about 167 billion dollars). Once completed, the dam is expected to generate more power than the three Gorajz dam on the Yangtzi River, which increases concerns in Downstream countries, India and Bangladesh. Experts have said that the project can affect the water flow and ecology of the Brahmaputra river system. India had expressed concern about the project earlier this year. In January, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “China has been urged to ensure that the interests of Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas.” China replied, saying that the dam on Yarlung Tsangpo (Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra River) would not cause any “negative effects”.Also read: ‘Dam on Brahmaputra will not affect the flow of water in India’. China says after protest against New Delhi Register Environmental groups have also destroyed the impact of such large projects in an ecological sensitive Tibetan plateau, warning that this can lead to irreversible changes in the region.
