Monitoring China dam on Brahmaputra, govt tells Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: Centre is carefully monitoring developments related to the

Brahmaputra river

, including plans by China to develop hydropower projects, and taking necessary measures to protect India's interests, environment ministry informed Rajya Sabha Thursday.
Taking note of China's announcement of a mega dam project approved on the lower reaches of Yarlung Tsangpo (upper reaches of Brahmaputra) river in Tibet Autonomous Region, the ministry said issues related to trans-border rivers were discussed with China under the ambit of an institutionalised expert-level mechanism which was set up in 2006, as well as through diplomatic channels.
"As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, govt has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to Chinese authorities, and has urged them to ensure the interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas," said the ministry in a written response to a Parliament question. "The cumulative impact assessment and carrying capacity studies have also been undertaken on the major tributaries of Brahamputra river in North-East India, so as to plan effective strategy to mitigate the possible ecological and socio-economic impacts of hydro-electric projects in the river basin."