The Central Government is ‘alive’ to the concern over the reported formation of three natural dams in the Yorlung Tsangpo river and ‘is carefully monitoring the water flow in the Brahmaputra for early detection of any abnormality, said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, according to The Arunachal Times.
“The government, in close cooperation with various state governments which are the users of the waters of the Brahmaputra, continues to carefully monitor the water flow in the Brahmaputra for early detection of any abnormality, so that corrective and preventive measures can be taken to safeguard life and property of the people,’ the External Affairs Minister is learnt to have written to parliamentarian Ninong Ering, according to the report.
Ering, the MP from Arunachal Pradesh, on February 7 this year had apprised the central government and sought its attention on the formation of the natural dams in the Yarlung Tsangpo and the potential danger being posed by the artificial debris to the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Swaraj also said that the central government has persistently conveyed its ‘views and concerns’ to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels, and has urged them to ensure that the ‘interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in the upstream areas’.
‘I personally raised the issue of recent development related to the Siang river with the Chinese foreign minister during his visit to India in December last year. The Chinese embassy on January 2 had clarified that there were no artificial lakes in relevant parts of the Yarlung Zangbo river,’ Swaraj further wrote, the report claimed.