Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has issued a strict warning over the huge hydroelectric project of China being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, known as Brahmaputra, just beyond the border of India. Describing it as “tick-ticking water bomb”, Khandu said that the project can pose a threat to the existence of people living in low-lying areas, especially Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Khandu said that the refusal of China to be part of any international water-division treaty makes the project even more worrying. He said that the issue is that China cannot be trusted. Nobody knows what they can do. Due to this, our tribes and our livelihood are under threat of existence. This is quite serious because China can also use it as a type of water bomb.
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China’s refusal to sign water treaties is a matter of concern
Khandu stressed that if China signed the international water-sharing agreements, the dam could have possible benefits, such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and even preventing monsoon floods in Bangladesh. But he warned that without such agreements, the risks are serious. Highlighting the weaknesses of the Northeast population, Khandu said that if the dam is built and they suddenly release water, then our entire Siang area will be destroyed. Communities like Adi Tribes will lose land, property and even life.
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The objective of India’s project is to protect water security
Khandu said that to reduce the risks, the Arunachal government along with the Center has launched the Siang Additional Multipurpose Project. He said that it will serve as a defensive measure and protect our water needs. He further said that if the Indian project is completed on time, water storage and flood control will ensure self -sufficiency. He reiterated that China has started building or starting in its part of the river, but did not share any updates or data with India. He warned, if the dam is completed in a long time, our Siang and Brahmaputra rivers can dry to a large extent.