Most of the water of the Brahmaputra comes from India.
New Delhi: China is building the world’s largest dam in its occupied Tibet. In response, India’s plan is also ready. India is preparing to build two dams. It is believed that China will also be in tension due to this move by India, because most of the water of the Brahmaputra comes from India. India cannot build dam after dam like China, nor should it try to do so. But it should be ready to protect its interests through infrastructure, diplomacy, flexibility and regional alliances. The disasters of the past and the dam being built today tell us that it is necessary to take action before the next disaster occurs. Know what India’s plan is and what the challenges are?
Where and at what place is China’s dam being built?
According to a report published on Strat News Global, China is building a mega dam project on the Yarlug Sangbo river (this river is called Brahmaputra in Tibet). This dam is being built near the Great Bend, from where the river turns sharply before entering India.
What is India’s plan?
Officials have proposed to build two important storage dams in Arunachal Pradesh. One at Yinkiong and the other at Upper Siang. Brahmaputra is called Siang in Arunachal Pradesh. The storage capacity of both the dams is 9.2 billion cubic meters. This will be able to store excess water during the monsoon. Also, the water suddenly released from the other side can also be controlled.
Why this is a matter of crisis for India?
According to the report, the proposal to build a dam on Siang is still on paper. At the same time, China has started the work of building the dam. The matter of crisis is that about 80 percent of the water of Brahmaputra comes from Indian water sources only. This is the reason why people living near the Siang River in Arunachal are protesting against the dams being built in Tibet and the proposed dams of India. The Brahmaputra is called Yarlung Tsang Po in Tibet and Siang or Dihang after entering Arunachal, Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh.
What is India’s network of river sensors?
India has created a network of river sensors at Tuting, Yinkiong, Pasighat and other sites. These stations keep telling about the water levels, its pressure and flow in real time. However, these efforts of India are part of the early warning system. This is not a defensive measure. India’s options of action are limited but not exhausted.
