Arunachal Pradesh is set to face the second bout of flood water rushing down from Tibet in China due to landslides that blocked the river Yarlung-Tsangpo in Milin section in Tibet on October 29. The blockade has resulted in the overflowing of water which reached Tuting in upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh at 5.30 pm on Wednesday. It is likely to reach Pasighat at 1.30 am on Thursday.
Chinese Ministry of Water Resources, Beijing has informed India that the water has started overflowing since 9.30 on Wednesday morning.
The Disaster Management Authority of Arunachal Pradesh has issued alert and requested the Upper Siang/Siang and East Siang district administrations to alert all people living along Siang River and prevent them from going for fishing, swimming, boating, picnic and any other activity.
The level of flood water in Siang River will be less than the October 20 flood. It is expected that no major danger or damage will be caused by the flood water. But if the present overflow of flood creates a breach at the blockpoint, the water discharge will be more. The water accumulation in the landslides dam is estimated to be 330 million cubic meter.
As per satellite imagery, the length of the blockade is 1.70 km. The blockade on October 17 was 3.5 km long.
During the third week of October, similar situation arose as the barrier lake which was formed on the Yarlung Tsangpo breached.
It may be mentioned that the Lok Sabha member from Arunachal East Ninong Ering recently wrote to Union MoS for Water Resources Arjun Meghwal for revisiting water ties with China.
In his letter he pointed out that India once again faces the threat of an impending ‘water war from China’. The two countries have always faced tension over the Brahmaputra (downstream of Yarlung Tsangpo in China) that originates in Tibet, the ‘water-tower of Asia’.
Observing the unnatural phenomenon such as change of water quality and constant flood threat since last one and half year, All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) also demanded a water treaty between India and neighbouring China.
Recently, three federal wings of the AAPSU namely East Siang, Siang and Upper Siang districts also organized a protest rally at Pasighat.