China’s Dam Threat: Centre mulling to construct barrage in Arunachal’s Siang Valley

The Centre has drawn out plans to counter the looming threat owing to China constructing a mega dam in the upper reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Siang in Arunachal Pradesh) in the Tibet region bordering frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu informed about the Centre’s proposed move to construct a barrage to deal with the potential hazards posed by China’s dam that would generate 60,000 MW of power.

CM Khandu stated this while responding to a Zero Hour discussion initiated by Congress member Lombo Tayeng in the Arunachal Assembly that concluded yesterday.

Besides, the Chief Minister also expressed concern over the gravity of the situation. According to CM Khandu, if China diverts the Yarlung Tsangpo’s waterflow, the dimension of the Siang would be reduced, and if water is released from the dam in large quantities then it would have a devastating impact in the downstream areas especially in the Siang valley of Arunachal Pradesh. If such a situation arises, a similar impact will also hit Assam as well as Bangladesh.

To expedite the process of executing the plans, the Centre is engaged in constant talks with the Brahmaputra Board, with several rounds of discusssions already taken place, CM Khandu added.

“We have to keep Siang alive. If there is diversion of water (by China), the dimension of Siang will be reduced, or if water comes in large volumes, it will create massive floods in the Siang valley and downstream areas in neighbouring Assam and Bangladesh,” he said, adding that “in case of release of excessive water, we need to have big structures to protect ourselves from floods,” the Arunachal Chief Minister said.

As per reports, Chief Minister Khandu will be visiting Siang valley today to review the survey work for the barrage.

The Yarlung Tsangpo river starts from Manasarovar lake and flows easterly about more than 1600 km across Tibet before it bends towards the south-east around Namcha Barwa peak to enter India at Gelling in where the river is known as Siang. It flows for nearly 300 km in Arunachal through Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang districts before entering Assam, where the river is known as Brahmaputra.