IANS/New Delhi
The government yesterday said it will look into how much water will be lost from its rivers because of dams being built by China on the Brahmaputra river. “The ministry of water resources will advise us whether these dams are just run-of-the-river dams or storage dams. Our understanding is that these are run-of-the-river dams, in which case we would not be affected,” External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters here.
“We also have to get expert advice on what is the downstream impact and how much water is likely to be removed. We have indicated (to China) that we have downstream concerns,” he added.
The government had on Thursday urged China to ensure its plans to construct upstream dams on the Brahmaputra river do not harm interests of lower riparian states.
“As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the river, India has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels of the government of the People’s Republic of China,” an external affairs ministry spokesperson said.
The Brahmaputra originates in the Tibet Autonomous Region and flows into India in Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile an NGO alleged that China was building 26 hydropower dams on the upper reaches of the river in Tibet.
Three years ago, the NGO Jana Jagriti had made public photographs claiming that China was building mega hydropower dams on the upper Brahmaputra in Tibet to divert the waters under a project called “South to North Water diversion Projects”.
“Jana Jagriti brought this fact to light three years ago through the media that the water of the Brahmaputra is not only being used for dams and hydro power projects but its waters are also being diverted by China. China has accepted this,” said Ashokananda Singhal, president of Jana Jagriti.
