Arunachal CM Pema Khandu Raises Concerns Over China's Hydropower Project

Introduction

In Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed concerns about China's reluctance to engage in binding international water treaties. He highlighted the selective sharing of hydrological data by China and emphasized the need for cooperative governance of shared water resources in Asia.

China's Hydropower Project

Speaking at the 'Environment and Security' seminar, Khandu discussed China's plan to build the world's largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River. This river flows into Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang and becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam before reaching Bangladesh. Khandu warned that the dam could allow China to control water flow, potentially causing droughts or floods downstream.

Environmental and Security Implications

Khandu noted that the dam could disrupt water flow, affect sediment transport, and impact agriculture. He stressed that the project poses risks to water security, ecology, and livelihoods in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Bangladesh. He also highlighted the broader implications of China's exploitation of Tibet's natural resources, which threaten major Indian rivers originating from the Tibetan Plateau.

India's Role and Historical Ties

Khandu emphasized India's role in global environmental conservation due to its dependency on Tibet's rivers. He also spoke about the historical and cultural ties between India and Tibet, particularly through Buddhism, which has connected the regions since the 8th century.

Seminar Participation

The seminar was attended by notable figures including Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration, MP Tapir Gao, and representatives from various Tibetan support groups and indigenous forums.