Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has accused China of encroaching on the right of the people living downstream of the mighty Brahmaputra.
While reacting to the Chinese plans of building a massive dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that China is going ahead with its plans by maintaining an aggressive stance.
“Those upstream cannot violate the rights of people downstream,” Pema Khandu said.
China is planning to build a huge dam, just 40 kilometres upstream from the Indian Territory to divert 200 billion cubic metres of water annually from Brahmaputra and use it to produce electricity and solve the water scarcity in China’s arid Northwest.
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On Thursday, India said that China must ensure that the hydropower projects on the Chinese side must not invade the water rights of lower riparian states.
Meanwhile, Beijing continues has asserted its right to build the dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river close to the McMohan line.
Chinese plans of building a ‘super’ dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (River Brahmaputra as known in Tibet) has raised apprehensions of water scarcity and security in the Northeast.
“The Government has been conveying its concerns to China and urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.