New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said China has not constructed any dam on Brahmaputra river that would have been a matter of concern for India, according to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorje Khandu.
Khandu, who led a delegation of state leaders to Singh,
said the Prime Minister had also told them that India would
tackle diplomatically the boundary issue with China.
The delegation met Singh to seek review of defence
strategy for the eastern sector in view of Chinese incursions
and expressed serious concern over reports of a dam being
constructed by China on Brahmaputra river.
"The Prime Minister said no dam is being constructed and
only run-off-the-river construction has been made," Khandu
told reporters while citing a letter from Chinese government.
A media report last week had said that China was building
a big dam on Brahmaputra river, prompting India to express
concern over the development as it would change the course of
the river and could result in submergence of low-lying areas
downstream.
India has no problem with run-off-the-river constructions
but building of a dam as it involves storage of water.
When the delegation raised the issue of Chinese
incursions into the state, the Prime Minister assured them
that the Centre will "tackle" the boundary question with the
neighbouring country bilaterally.
"The Prime Minister told us not to worry. He said the
Centre will tackle with the situation bilaterally," said
Congress MP from Arunachal West Takam Sanjoy, who was part of
the delegation.
Khandu said the state is an "integral part of India" and
the recent election there is a reply to Chinese claim over the
state.
Sanjoy said the delegation requested the Prime Minister
to give a big push to infrastructure development to ensure
better surveillance over Chinese activities.
The delegation also urged Singh to create a para-military
force comprising youths from the state only.
"We demanded formation of Arunachal Scouts comprising
only youths from the state as they are willing to join the
forces to defend their territory," Sanjoy said.
China, which lays claim over Arunachal Pradesh, recently
objected to the Prime Minister`s visit to the state leading to
a war of words between the two countries.
Besides responding strongly to the Chinese objection,
India retaliated by questioning China`s engagement in projects
in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and asked it to stop such
activities taking a "long-term view" of India-China relations.
The delegation, in its memorandum, also requested Singh
to take all measures to ensure success of the upcoming visit
of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to the state next
month.
China has objected to the proposed visit of the Dalai
Lama.
Bureau Report
