The Parliament was informed that New Delhi has taken note of reports about China beginning the construction of a mega dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo river (upper reaches of the Siang) in Tibet.
In July, Chinese media reported that Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced the start of a hydropower project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river, with a groundbreaking ceremony in Nyingchi city at the site of the Mainling hydropower station. Media sources say that with a total investment estimated at around 1.2 trillion yuan (about 167.8 billion US dollars), the project will consist of five cascade hydropower stations.
Since the upstream developments in Tibet are bound to affect the Siang valley in Arunachal Pradesh – the downstream region in India – it is concerning that India and China have yet to resume sharing hydrological information on the river, which has been suspended since 2023.
China had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the “provision of hydrological information on the Yaluzangbu/Brahmaputra river during the flood season” in 2002. This MoU was renewed in 2008, 2013, and 2018, as the Parliament was informed. The Brahmaputra is known as the Siang in Arunachal.
However, China did not provide hydrological information for the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers in 2017, citing technical reasons. The latest MoU on the Brahmaputra expired on 5 June, 2023, and hydrological data sharing has been suspended since then.
The matter was reportedly discussed recently during the visit of the Chinese foreign minister to New Delhi. If ties between the two countries have indeed improved, as both sides claim, then the sharing of such vital information must be resumed – especially as it concerns the safety of thousands of people and the region’s fragile environment.
During the monsoon season, it is crucial to share this data, even if the Siang is fed more by tributaries within Indian territory, because it still originates in Tibet. Given that the Siang continues to be unpredictable, India and China must step up efforts to create a conducive atmosphere for cooperation and ensure timely exchange of critical hydrological data.