'China hydel projects not to affect NE water flow'

GUWAHATI: At a time when anti-dam groups are worried over the China's dam construction on the higher reaches of the Brahmaputra in Tibet, the Centre on Thursday said four hydropower projects planned by Beijing will not cause a significant change in the water flow of the northeast.
Union minister of state for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, Santosh Kumar Gangwar said while the central government is aware of the run-of-the river hydro-electric project at Zangmu on the Chinese side of Brahmaputra known as Yarlung Tsangpo, three more hydro-power projects on the river in Tibetan Autonomous Region were approved by the Chinese authorities.The recently released ?Outline of the 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China' indicated three more hydropower projects on the main stream of the Yarlung Tsangpo which have been approved for implementation by the Chinese Authorities, he said, addressing the Lok Sabha.
These four projects are considered to be run-of-the-river (RoR) hydro-electric projects and no significant change on the water flow in the Northeast is expected, he added.
Though the union minister said that India has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities in order to ensure, that interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in the upstream areas, the anti-dam and civil society groups in Northeast have always been worried with the construction activities on Yarlung Tsangpo.
Experts have been skeptical about China and India's assurances that these run-of-the-river projects on Tibetan side would not affect water flow to Northeast. They argued that India's northeast being the lower riparian state, there would certainly be cumulative impact and New Delhi should hold discussions with China regarding water, dam safety and about the predicted cumulative impacts.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) alleged that central government has not been serious about the cumulative impact in Northeast. "We want India to hold discussions with China regarding the declaration of Brahmaputra from Tibet to Bangladesh, including India's northeast as neutral river zone because of ecological and cultural sensitivity," said Akhil Gogoi, KMSS president.
Gogoi also threatened to stage demonstration in front of Chinese embassy in New Delhi to stop the dam construction in Tibet. "The dam construction on Brahmaputra in Tibetan region will certainly have impacts on Northeast. India has not been taking heed of this matter," added Gogoi.
Last year, the Northeast Dialogue Forum (NDF), a conglomeration of over 20 human rights and anti-dam organizations in the region, has asked both New Delhi and Beijing to establish an independent international commission on these matters which will lead to better management of trans-boundary rivers. This will also honor the rights of natives in that area.