China’s construction of dams on the Brahmaputra River (known as the Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet) has raised concerns in India regarding water security and potential ecological impacts .
Remark : image of Dam at profile is Artificial
Key Concerns: image of Dam at profile is Artificial
- Water Control: There are fears that China could control the water flow of the Brahmaputra, potentially leading to water scarcity in India, especially during dry seasons . However, some experts suggest that the impact on the river’s overall flow may be minimal because the majority of the river’s water and sediment load comes from monsoonal rainfall in India and Bangladesh .
- Flooding: The dams could also increase the risk of flooding in downstream areas of India, particularly if there are sudden releases of water from the dams .
- Data Deficiency: A lack of comprehensive data sharing between China and India hinders effective hydro-diplomacy and exacerbates concerns .
- Dam Failure: There are concerns about the potential for dam failure due to seismic activity and extreme climatic events in the region, which could lead to catastrophic downstream flooding .
China’s Position:
- China has stated that its dam projects on the Brahmaputra will not negatively impact water flows to downstream countries like India .
- China maintains that these are run-of-the-river projects that do not involve water diversion .
India’s Response:
- India is building its own dam projects on the Brahmaputra to counter China’s projects and ensure water security .
- India and China have an Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) to discuss issues related to the Brahmaputra River, but there is no comprehensive bilateral treaty to govern shared transboundary rivers .
It’s important to note that some experts argue that fears of China diverting water or trapping sediments are exaggerated due to a lack of hard data . The real risk, they say, is dam failure due to the region’s seismic activity and extreme climatic events .for world news click www.eminentnews.com
