Centre concerned over Yarlung Tsangpo tural dams

Itagar, March 31: Exterl Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a letter to Lok Sabha MP Ninong Ering of the Congress from Aruchal Pradesh, said the Centre is alive to the concern over the reported formation of three tural dams in the Yarlung Tsangpo (the Brahmaputra as is known in Tibet) and is carefully monitoring the water flow in the Brahmaputra for early detection of any abnormality.

“The government, in close cooperation with various State governments which are the users of the waters of the Brahmaputra, continues to carefully monitor the water flow in the Brahmaputra for early detection of any abnormality, so that corrective and preventive measures can be taken to safeguard life and property of the people,” the minister wrote to Ering, who represents Aruchal east parliamentary constituency.

Ering had on 7 February last drawn the attention of the Centre towards the formation of the tural dams in the Yarlung Tsangpo and the potential danger being posed by the artificial debris dams to the States of Aruchal Pradesh and Assam.

Swaraj said the government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels, and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in the upstream areas.

“I persolly raised the issue of recent development related to the Siang river with the Chinese foreign minister during his visit to India in December 2017. The Chinese embassy on January 2 last clarified that there were no artificial lakes in relevant parts of the Yarlung Tsangpo,” the Union Minister said in her letter to Ering on Friday.

She said the government will remain engaged with Chi on the issue of trans-border rivers through the institutiolized expert-level mechanism established in 2006.