RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.52
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2015
DAM ON BRAHMAPUTRA BY CHINA
*52. SHRI NEERAJ SHEKHAR:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether China has operationalised the biggest dam on Brahmaputra recently in October, 2015, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether Chief Minister of Assam has expressed concern over the Chinese dam on Brahmaputra, if so, the details thereof and the details of steps taken in this regard;
(c) whether China has started building ten such other dams on Brahmaputra, if so, the details thereof and the reaction and response of Government thereto; and
(d) whether Government has taken up the matter with Chinese authorities, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)
(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.
*****
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 52 REGARDING "DAM ON BRAHMAPUTRA BY CHINA” FOR ANSWER ON 03.12.2015
(a) to (d) According to reports, Zangmu hydroelectric project has been operationalized in October, 2015. Reports indicate that it is a 510 MW run-of-the-river project. The ‘Outline of the 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China’ indicates that three more hydropower projects on the main stream of the Brahmaputra River in Tibet Autonomous Region have been approved for implementation by the Chinese authorities.
Government, in close cooperation with various State Governments including Government of Assam, which are users of the waters of river Brahmaputra, continues to carefully monitor the water flow in river Brahmaputra for early detection of abnormality so that corrective and preventive measures are taken to safeguard livelihood of peoples of these States of Union of India.
Various issues relating to trans-border rivers are discussed with China under the ambit of India-China Expert Level Mechanism which was established in 2006. 9th Meeting of the ELM was held in Beijing in May 2015. Government of India, under the Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Cooperation on Trans-border Rivers, signed in October 2013, obtains hydrological data from China on river Brahmaputra.
As a lower riparian State with considerable established user rights to the waters of the River, India has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels of the Government of the People’s Republic of China. India has urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas. During the visit of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi to China in May 2015, this matter was discussed. The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation on the provision of flood-season hydrological data and emergency management, and exchange views on other issues of mutual interest through the Expert-Level Mechanism.
*****