Carefully monitoring China’s activities on Brahmaputra: Govt

The government on Thursday said it is carefully monitoring and taking “necessary measures” regarding China’s activities on the Brahmaputra river, including its plans to build hydropower projects.

In a written reply tabled in Parliament, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, said, “The government carefully monitors all developments related to the Brahmaputra, including China’s hydropower plans, and takes necessary measures to protect our interests, including preventive and corrective steps to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of Indian citizens in downstream areas.”

Singh noted that the government has taken cognisance of China’s announcement of a mega dam project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (the upper stretch of the Brahmaputra) in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Various issues related to transborder rivers are discussed with China through an institutionalised expert-level mechanism, established in 2006, as well as through diplomatic channels, he said.

“As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights over transborder river waters, the government has consistently conveyed its concerns to China and urged it to ensure that downstream interests are not adversely affected by upstream activities,” Singh added.

Following China’s recent announcement of the mega dam project, the government amplified its concerns and issued a demarche on December 30, 2024, emphasising the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries.

The issue was also raised during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Beijing for the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism meeting between India and China.

“During the visit, both sides agreed to hold an early meeting of the expert-level mechanism to discuss the resumption of hydrological data sharing and other cooperation on transborder rivers,” he said.