Dam on Brahmaputra in Tibet won’t affect flow in India: China

BEIJING: The blocking of a tributary of the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, as part of a hydropower project, will have no impact on water flow into Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, China said on Sunday.

Assuaging New Delhi’s concern that dams on Yarlung could dry up river system in northeastern states of India and affect millions, the ministry of foreign affairs of the People’s Republic of China said that it had provided its neighbour with data on water flow and the possible flood situation.

On October 1, China announced it was blocking the 185 km-long Xiabuqu River, one of many tributaries of the Yarlung Zangbo, to construct a dam as part of the Lalho hydroelectric project in the Xigase region of TAR.

The timing added to the concern, with India and Pakistan sparring over the Indus River, which also originates in TAR.

In an emailed response, the Chinese ministry said there was no need for India to worry.

“For long, China and India have had excellent cooperation on cross-border water issues. China has overcome difficulties to provide India with services such as hydrological forecast and emergency actions in context of the general situation of SinoIndian friendship and humanitarian spirit,” the MFA said in a statement.

The sharing of the data has “…had positive influence on aspects such as flood prevention in related regions.”

The ministry pointed out that the Xiabuqu River is entirely within China and Beijing has the right to block or dam it.

The Yarlung Zangbo, originating in a Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) glacier, flows into Arunachal Pradesh as Siang River and is known as Brahmaputra in Assam.