Global Experts Express Concern Over China's Mega Dam Plan On Yarlong Tsangpo

Guwahati: Global experts on Tuesday expressed deep concern over China’s proposed “Great Bend Dam” on the Yarlong Tsangpo, as the Brahmaputra is known in Tibet.

Initiating the discussion during a daylong seminar titled "Ensuring Water Security, Ecological Integrity, and Disaster Resilience in the Sub-Himalayan Region: The Case of the Brahmaputra" prominent author and Tibetologist, Claude Arpi said China not only wants to become a power giant by building the dam in Medog county, but it also has plans to divert the water of Yarlung Tsangpo to the Yellow River through numerous tunnels.

The discussion was organised by North East’s premier think-tank Asian Confluence at Guwahati on Tuesday.

Arpi highlighted the possible devastating downstream impact of the proposed series of dams aimed at producing 60,000 MW at Namche Bawra on Northeast India and Bangladesh.

Journalist and author Bertil Linter, an expert on Asian politics and history, highlighted how the Chinese invasion into the Tibetan region in the late 1950s was specifically targeted on the numerous mega rivers which originate in the “Roof of the World”.

“China has constructed 11 mega dams only on the Mekong River, which is the lifeline of five other countries,” he said. He also underlined the need for India to have a water-sharing agreement with China, the lack of which may lead to “bilateral conflicts” between the two neighbours.

Lok Sabha member from Arunachal Pradesh and senior BJP leader Tapir Gao, known for his vocal stand against China's designs, said " It is not going to be a dam, but a “water bomb” to be used against India and other lower riparian countries".

Gao reminded about the June 2000 devastating floods caused by a similar “water bomb” that had washed away more than 10 bridges on the Siang river, as the Yarlung Tsangpo is known in Arunachal Pradesh before it became Brahmaputra upon entering Assam.

The Arunachal East MP also expressed support to the proposal for another dam to be built on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh in order to prevent disaster downstream due to possibility of sudden release of water from the proposed dam at the Great Bend.

Chairman of the Brahmaputra Board, Dr Ranbir Singh pointed out that the Brahmaputra Basin is the only water-surplus river basin in India with the rest being water-deficient. “With this dam in China, are we looking at a water-deficient Brahmaputra river basin?” he wondered. Dr Singh also underlined the need for a multi-pronged strategy, including upping the ante against the project, garnering support in international circles, and through collaborations.

Making a presentation during a technical session, IIT Guwahati’s Prof Anamika Baruah highlighted how studies have predicted more “dry days” in downstream of the Tibetan Plateau, which will rather see more “wet days” in the future as a consequence of the numerous dams being built in the region.

She, however, mentioned that there has been no collaborative study on the issue with China. Making a fervent appeal to highlight the issue at different forums, including in Parliament, Prof Baruah said, “Let’s shape the narrative before it is shaped for us.”

Experts from Nepal and Bhutan also took part in the seminar along with other experts spanning domains of ecology, water resource management, international relations, environmental law, engineering, policy formulation, governance, and economy.

The seminar sought to foster a collaborative dialogue between governmental agencies, civil society organizations, environmental practitioners, and academicians on the immense challenges posed by the proposed dam in Tibet, amidst the looming threat of climate change.