This story is from July 29, 2014

Gaurav calls for expediting projects on Brahmaputra

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi's son and first time MP Gaurav Gogoi has advocated expediting construction of hydropower projects on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries to counter China's similar plans in Tibet where the river is called Yarlung Tsangpo.
Gaurav calls for expediting projects on Brahmaputra
GUWAHATI: Chief minister Tarun Gogoi's son and first time MP Gaurav Gogoi has advocated expediting construction of hydropower projects on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries to counter China's similar plans in Tibet where the river is called Yarlung Tsangpo.
Recently, Union minister of state for water resources Santosh Kumar Gangwar has said in Parliament that the Chinese authorities have approved construction of three more hydropower projects on the river in addition to the one at Zangmu in the Tibetan region.

Gangwar said the '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 have been approved for implementation by the Chinese authorities.
Gaurav, who won from the Kaliabor parliamentary constituency, said that harnessing the Brahmaputra's hydropower potential and utilization of its water resources have become an imperative for establishing India's rights over the river.
"Hydropower is a clean energy source and the projects on the Brahmaputra need to be put on a fast-track because China is also doing similar activities on the river. However, we should not compromise on the safety issues of the projects. Sooner the projects come up on the Brahmaputra, Assam and parts of the region can overcome power crisis," Gaurav argued.
The river ranks fourth among the great rivers of the world, and come only after the Amazon, Congo and Yangtze.

While China shares 50.5% of the river, India's share is 33.6%. In India, however, the major part flows through Arunachal Pradesh (41.9%), followed by Assam (36.3%).
Gaurav rued that despite the Brahmaputra's immense potentiality, the BJP government's Union Budget did not propose any major project on the river.
"Floods and erosion are major problems in Assam, yet the budget had nothing on it. Moreover, there is no project on using the Brahmaputra for inland water transportation, whereas the budget has announced a similar scheme on the Ganga," Gaurav said.
Regarding dissidence activities among Congress legislators in the state, Gaurav said sooner they overcome the differences, better for the country. However, he refused to comment on former health minister Himanta Sarma, who is leading the dissidence camp in the state. "He (Sarma) is a senior person. I am only concerned about working for the people and for the state," he added.
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