China Dam Will Increase Flash Floods in Northeast India

Guwahati, Apr 23 : Northeast’s growing apprehensions about a hydropower structure coming up in higher reaches of Brahmaputra now seem to have become a nightmare come true: Beijing has admitted to the construction of a dam in Tibet where the river originates before flowing into India.

Chinese officials had confirmed the construction of a hydel project in Tibet’s Zangmu area to external affairs minister S M Krishna during his recent visit to Beijing.

Krishna said the Chinese foreign minister has assured him that, owing to the project’s small size, it would not have any impact in downstream Brahmaputra that passes through India’s northeastern region.

Yet, notwithstanding the Chinese assurance, experts here termed it as the "beginning’’ of a slew of such projects over Yarlung Tsangpo, the name by which Brahmaputra is known in Tibet, where it originates from the glaciers of Mount Kailash.

"Whether China goes for big or small hydel projects, it will definitely have an impact on the flow of Brahmaputra in northeastern region. We want the external affairs minister to press China to inform us the capacity of the hydel project at Zangmu as well as its height. We want to know what Beijing’s future plans on Yarlung Tsangpo are,’’ demanded Partha J Das, head of Aaranyak’s Water, Climate & Hazard Programme.