The Indian government is on high alert over China's construction of a colossal 60,000-megawatt dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Medog, perilously close to the international border with Arunachal Pradesh.
Senior BJP MLA Ninong Ering has sounded the alarm over China's construction of a colossal 60,000-megawatt dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Medog, near the international border with Arunachal Pradesh.
This ambitious project by China has prompted urgent calls for intervention by the Indian government due to the potential risks it poses.
Ering, a former Union minister, stressed on the immediate need for governmental action to address the potential threat. "We cannot trust our ‘neighbour’. They might either divert the entire river flow, drying up our Siang, or release water suddenly, causing unprecedented flood havoc downstream," he cautioned.
The Yarlung Tsangpo River, which becomes the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and the Brahmaputra in Assam, flows into Bangladesh as the Jamuna before joining the Bay of Bengal.
Ering, participating in the motion of thanks to the governor's address, highlighted the transboundary nature of the river and the wide-reaching impact of the dam, affecting not just India but also Bangladesh.
Ering asserted, "People’s safety and the country’s security cannot be compromised. Our motto should be ‘Nation First’, and we have to think about India’s security."
He advocated for the construction of dams with substantial storage capacities to mitigate the flood risks posed by the Chinese dam project
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The absence of a water treaty between India and China further exacerbates the uncertainty surrounding the dam's potential impact.
Ering suggested involving anti-dam activists in discussions to ensure the interests of local populations are considered.
"Hydropower is Arunachal Pradesh's only resource," he added, citing the strategic importance of water management in the state.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu had previously informed that the Centre is considering the construction of a large barrage on the Siang River to safeguard the region from potential threats posed by the Chinese dam.
"In case of the release of excessive water, we need to have big structures to protect ourselves from floods. The Centre, too, has expressed concern about the position of the Siang River once the Chinese project is completed. We have to keep Siang alive. If there is a diversion of water by China, massive land erosion will take place," Khandu had remarked.
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