Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Contrary to the assurances given by the External Affairs Ministry that China's Zangmu Dam on the Brahmaputra River was not a cause of concern, a report, on Tuesday, claimed that the dam will restrict the flow of water downstream.
As per a news channel, an intelligence report prepared by the Beijing unit of RAW had warned the government that China does not plan to reduce the height of the dam, a demand which India has taken up with China several times. The current height of the dam is at 3,370 feet, which according to experts will affect the flow of water downstream.
The report had specifically outlined that there was no response from China’s side pertaining to the Brahmaputra dam, while also urging the need to take up the matter with China on an urgent basis.
Importantly, the report was submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat on June 13, four days before SM Krishna’s announced that there was nothing to worry as India is keeping a close watch on the developments across its eastern border.
The government had allayed fears of one and all including the Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, that there was no cause to be distressed as the Chinese project was a run off the river dam.
The CM of Assam was given a guarantee by Krishna - on June 16 - that there will not be any diversion of water from Brahmaputra and that there was constant satellite monitoring to check China’s motive. It was also said that China was just building small dams on the tributaries of Brahmaputra which will not affect the downstream flow of water of the river into India.
It must be noted that Brahmaputra is the lifeline of Assam, the agriculture output of the state depends on its water.
MP’s from Arunachal Pradesh have also reportedly raised the issue with the Centre.
First Published: Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 14:41