After Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu has expressed concern over China’s plan to build the largest hydroelectric dam in East Tibet and warned that Beijing can use it as a “water bomb” Is.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a seminar on ‘Environment and Safety’ in the State Legislative Assembly campus on Friday, Mr. Khandu attracted the attention of all stakeholders to the Chinese scheme for construction of a hydroelectric project – which can generate 60,000 MW of electricity. . The Yarlung Tsangpo River, which enters Arunachal Pradesh as a Siang River and becomes a Brahmaputra in Assam before flowing in Bangladesh.
Talking to reporters later, the Chief Minister said in Hindi, “60,000 MW … It is out of reference. If such a large mega project is built there, it will have a major impact on the ecology of Siang and surrounding areas. ” Brahmaputra. This is a major threat and, if China uses it as a water bomb, our Adi tribe will disappear in the Siang belt and millions of people in Assam will lose their lives … It will go to Bangladesh. “
Shri Khandu said that, keeping in mind the activities of China, the Siang Additional Multipurpose Project – which would include the construction of dams to generate 11,000 MW of hydroelectric project – will be introduced as a national project.
“I am talking to stakeholders about this so that we can maintain our water security and protect China from using the dam as a water bomb. We cannot trust China. We can not trust China. Promotes and want good relations, but history, can we rely on China? Look at, so we can’t trust China.
The Chief Minister said that the Ministry of External Affairs is discussing the dam issue with China through diplomatic channels, but he insisted that “being ready” is important.
Effect
Mr. Khandu reported that the dam will allow China to control the time and volume of the water flowing downwards, which can have a destructive effect during a short flow or drought period. He warned that powerful Ciang and Brahmaputra rivers may dry during winter, which may disrupt the Siang belt and life in the plains of Assam.
Conversely, Mr. Khandu said, “A sudden release of water from the dam may cause severe floods at the bottom, especially during the monsoon, the community may be displaced, crops may be destroyed and the infrastructure may be damaged.” He insisted that the dam will change the flow of sediment, which will affect agricultural land which depends on the natural repayment of the river’s nutrients.
‘Transmitted concern’
The proposed dam, whose construction was approved by the Chinese government in December, will be built to a valley of the Himalayas in East Tibet, where the Brahmaputra river takes a U-turn to flow in Arunachal Pradesh.
When asked about the possible impact of the dam on Assam earlier this month, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “As far as we are concerned, we have already told that if this dam is built, then Brahmaputra ecology The mechanism will be completely delicate, it will deteriorate. ” Drought and we will only depend on the rainwater of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. ”
He said, “The Government of India has already told the Chinese side its concern. And I am sure that in the ongoing conversation process between India and China, it will definitely be raised by the Indian side.”