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Government flags suspension of Brahmaputra and Sutlej hydrological data, says China urged to consult downstream countries before major projects.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting, in New Delhi. (IMAGE: PTI)
India has formally raised concerns over the construction of China’s mega dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, citing strategic and environmental risks. During discussions in the Rajya Sabha on the final day of the monsoon session, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the government closely monitors developments relating to the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
Singh informed MPs that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also took up these concerns directly with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. India has consistently emphasized its position as a lower riparian state with established user rights over trans-border rivers, urging China to ensure transparency and consult downstream countries before undertaking major hydropower projects.
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“Various issues relating to trans-border rivers are discussed with China under the ambit of an institutionalized Expert Level Mechanism which was established in 2006, as well as through diplomatic channels. As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, Government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns over activities in upstream areas to the Chinese authorities, including on the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream slates are not harmed by them,” Singh told the Upper House.
Singh highlighted that India and China have a history of hydrological cooperation through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). The MoU on the Brahmaputra, originally signed in 2002 and renewed multiple times, expired on June 5, 2023, while the MoU on the Sutlej expired on November 5, 2020. Hydrological data from the Brahmaputra has been suspended since June 2023, and Sutlej data has not been received since 2022. The suspension of this critical information has been repeatedly raised with China during diplomatic engagements, the minister said, answering a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Jebi Mather Hisham.
“The Chinese side did not provide the hydrological information with respect to Brahmaputra and Sutlej Rivers in 2017. The issue was taken up with the Chinese side, who had conveyed that the non-provision of data was due to technical reasons,” he further added.
Singh also stated that the government carefully monitors developments relating to the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
He added that preventive and corrective measures are taken to protect the life and livelihood of citizens in downstream states, including Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
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