(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) The Big Picture: Monitoring China's Moves on Brahmaputra

Topic: Monitoring China's Moves on Brahmaputra

Guest:

Vivek Katju, (Former Ambassador)
Dhruv C. Katoch, (Director, India Foundation)
Jayadeva Ranade, (Security & Intelligence Expert)

Topic Description:

Amidst reports that China plans to build a major dam on the Brahmaputra, India on Thursday said it “carefully monitors” all developments relating to the river, and that it intends to remain engaged with China on the issue of trans-border rivers to safeguard its interests. The Brahmaputra river, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in China, originates from Tibet and flows into Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. At a media briefing, earlier this week, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the Chinese side has conveyed to India on several occasions that it was only undertaking run-of-the-river hydropower projects, which do not involve diversion of the waters of the Brahmaputra. Noting that issues relating to trans-border rivers are discussed with China under the ambit of an institutionalised expert level mechanism which was established in 2006 as well as through diplomatic channels, the MEA spokesperson said,”we intend to remain engaged with China on the issue of trans-border rivers to safeguard our interests.” In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry said there is no need to have “any anxiety” over the project and that China will continue to have “good communication” with lower riparian states – India and Bangladesh.