Parliament discussion regarding China’s dam on Brahmaputra River

 


By Dr. S. Chakraborty

On 6th February, 2025, The Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Mr. Kirti Vardhan Singh answered questions related to China’s decision to build world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra River. Diplomacy and Global Politics has already reported the issue China Approved Plans to Construct Dam on Transboundary River Brahmaputra . 

The concern was raised by Rajya Sabha member, Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala and Shri Sanjay Raut. The main concern of both the question were to understand hydrological and ecological implications of the dam on the Northeast India; the unilateral stand of China regarding the transborder river which flows through Tibet, India and Bangladesh; whether India received any assurance from China regarding water sharing; India’s stand to prevent water-related hostilities in future; and whether India raised the concern in international organisations like UN or Makong River Commission for collective action?

Expressing India’s concern Mr. Singh noted that the government is carefully monitoring all developments relating to Brahmaputra River. India is a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the transborder rivers. He ensured that the government would take necessary preventive and corrective measures to protect and safeguard life and livelihood of Indian citizens residing in downstream areas.

He confirmed that since 2006 India and China discussed various issues relating to trans-border rivers under an institutionalized Expert Level Mechanism as well as through diplomatic channels. The government continuously conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities. It has also urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas. Following the announcement of China’s mega dam project, the government amplified their concern and formally expressed the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries.

Mr. Singh also informed the House that the issue was raised during the visit of Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri to Beijing for a meeting of Indo-China Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism. He also informed that during the visit, ‘India and China agreed to hold an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism to discuss resumption of provision of hydrological data and other cooperation pertaining to trans-border rivers.’ He also ensured that ‘government of India intends to remain engaged with China on the issue of trans-border rivers to safeguard our interests.’

For detail

QUESTION NO-394CHINA’S HYDROPOWER PROJECT AND ITS IMPACT ON INDIA

QUESTION NO-393WORLD’S LARGEST DAM ON THE BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER BY CHINA


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PM Modi’s Tentative Programme for His Visit to France

  By Dr. S. Chakraborty At the invitation of President Macron, PM Modi will visit France in the next week. He will be there from 10 th to 12 th February, 2025. Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Mishri shared a tentative programme schedule of PM Modi. PM Modi will arrive Paris in the evening of the 10 th February. At that evening, he will attend a dinner that is being hosted by President Macron at the Élysée Palace in honor of visiting Heads of Government and Heads of State. The dinner is also likely to be attended by a large number of CEOs from the tech domain and a number of other distinguished invitees to the summit. On the 11th of February, the Prime Minister will co-chair the AI Action Summit, along with President Macron. Considering the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence in all sectors of economy, polity, society and governance, this summit is highly significance. This is the third such high level summit that is being held in the very recent past. The first of ...
Read more

Parliament discussion on Status of investigation on the 1985 Kanishka Bombing

  By Dr. S. Chakraborty On 6 th February, 2025, Shri Kartikeya Sharma, member of Rajya Sabha, expressed his concern regarding the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the 1985 Kanishka bombing. The attack claimed 329 lives, among them majority were India-origin, and 24 Indian nationals. He asked the current status of India's engagement with the Canadian Government and other partners, regarding the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the Kanishka bombing and the details thereof; he also asked the details of the steps being taken by the Ministry to ensure that all perpetrators of the bombing are extradited to India; and whether there is any mechanism in place to ensure that the Canadian Government is held accountable for any perceived lapses in their investigation or prosecution of the perpetrators, if so, the details thereof? Answering the question, the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh clearly ...
Read more

China Approved Plans to Construct Dam on Transboundary River Brahmaputra

  On December 25, 2024 China approved construction of world’s largest dam on a transboundary river Yarlung-Tsangpo in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, called Brahmaputra river in India.  Yarlung-Tsangpo is the longest river of Tibet. The approved dam will be three times larger than the Three Gorges dam. China claimed that the project has gone through rigorous scientific verification and will not have any negative impact on downstream countries like, India and Bangladesh. India already reacted by saying that it will protect its own interest. India’s concern could also be measured from the discussion of the Indian officials with the visiting US National Security Advisor Mr. Jake Sullivan, where the issue found place. Mr. Sullivan came to India to review the trajectory of India-US global strategic partnership under the Biden administration. The dam will be constructed at a huge gorge in the Himalayan reaches where the Brahmaputra makes a U-turn to flow through Arunacha...
Read more