By Tenzin Dickyi
New Delhi
Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC) organized a panel discussion on Diversion of the Brahmaputra and its Ramifications on India and Bangaladesh here in India Habitat Centre, New Delhi yesterday. A similar program was organized in 2003 also.
The 2,906 km long Brahmaputra is one of Asia’s largest rivers that traverse its first stretch of 1,625 km in Tibet, the next 918 km in India and the remaining 363 km through neighbouring Bangladesh before converging into the Bay of Bengal. And with China mulling to construct a huge hydropower dam to tame river Brahmaputra that originates in Tibet, the water flow to India and Bangladesh is set to be affected.
The panelists present were experts in their respective discipline and brought to light some indepth studies and detail information concerning the Damming of River Brahmaputra. They include Mr. Claude Arpi, an ardent supporter of Tibet’s freedom struggle and who had been doing research on Brahmaputra Issue, Prof. V Subramanian of the School of Environmental Sciences, JNU, Mr. Gopal Krishna, Convener, Water Watch and Mr. Himanshu Thakkar, Coordinator, South Asia Network of River Dams and People.
‘The project was first reported in Scientific American in June 1996. The report quoted some Chinese engineers that such a feat would be impossible with conventional methods. The Journal also stated that Chinese technologists and officials have touted the potential of nuclear blasts for carrying out non-military goals’, stated the press release by TPPRC.
Also Present at the discussion were Arunachal Pradesh Member of Parliament, Shri Khiren Rijiju, Kalon Tempa Tsering, Minister of Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration, Mr. Penpa Tsering (executive director of Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre), Miss Youdon Aukatsang, Ven. Yeshi Phuntsok and Mr. Gyari Bhutuk (standing members of the Tibetan parliament). The discussion also witnessed other audiences and couple of media personnels.
Focussing on the aspects of implication this project will have on Tibet, Mr. Claude Arpi presented a detailed outline of the issue. Mr. Arpi also said that China has proved to the world that they are capable of doing anything by building the Golmud-Lhasa rail track which is 1,118 km long and is the world’s highest railway in the world. Therefore, before China puts their hand on this project, India must come forward and raise the drawbacks and ramifications it will have on them.
Chinese government and officials have always refused to acknowledge to talk about the project infront of media. They have for all time kept it very low profile and declined to have such projects in hand. But if the project goes through, it could choke one of India’s and Bangladesh’s biggest sources of water. And China will leave no stone unturned to make it possible and reality someday.
Mr. Himanshu Thakkar brought to light some very important yet very pertinent instances which India pretended to be ignorant about till date. The major flood that hit Arunachal Pradesh on 12th June 2000 and thereafter few other floods which took away lives of many people and was a huge lost to the Nation has till now not found the reasons behind the disaster. And surprisingly there was no rain in those areas at that time, said Mr. Thakkar.
Earlier Arunachal officials had said that the floods were caused due to the breach of a Chinese dam in Tibet but Indian government has till date not gathered detailed information and done proper investigation into the matter.
‘India needs to be vigilant and must try to go beyond diplomacy when it concerns serious issues like this and take up the matter with China and ask them what exactly went wrong’, said Mr. Himanshu Thakkar.
Other panelists also made their presentation and the last half an hour was thrown to the floor for discussions and comments from the audience.
Honorable Member of Parliament, Shri Khiren Rijiju later told the press that he will definitely raise the Brahmaputra issue in the Parliament and urge the Indian government to take up the matter with their Chinese counterparts more seriously.
