The construction of several dams on the Brahmaputra River, also known as Yarlung in China, has recently garnered attention in the news due to its potential implications for India. As both countries face water constraints due to their growing populations and economies, they are on a race to develop new projects to overcome this issue.
Understanding the Significance of the Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra River originates from the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake and flows under various names before entering India at the Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh. The river, which is fed by tributaries like Dibang, Lohit, Siang, Burhi Dihing, Tista, and Dhansari, has unique characteristics due to its geography and climatic conditions. It floods twice annually: once because of the melting Himalayan snow in summer and again due to monsoon flows. The increasing frequency of these floods, heightened by climate change, poses a threat to the population and food security in India and Bangladesh.
Chinese Perspective on Water Usage
Home to around 20% of the world’s population yet holding only 7% of the world’s water resources, China is grappling with severe water shortages compounded by pollution from rapid industrialization. To address this problem, China plans to link the major rivers in the water-rich southern regions to the water-stressed northern part through canals, aqueducts, and other linking projects. Such actions have already affected Southeast Asian nations like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, causing ripples of tension in those regions.
India’s Stand on the Issue
India, bearing 17% of the world’s population and only 4% of the water, faces serious water shortages. Water scarcity is particularly acute in the summer, when majority of urban areas experience shortages. While the Gangetic plains receive ample water throughout the year, the southern, western, and eastern coastal regions face harsh conditions due to insufficient and erratic rainfall. India has proposed an ambitious north-south river-linking project, but it has been criticized for potentially disturbing fragile ecosystems.
Potential Damages
There are several concerns associated with constructing dams on the river. These include degradation of the basin, threats to the flora and fauna, disadvantages due to the unfavorable location of the dams, risk to inhabitants, and strategic implications. Any changes in the river’s flow could have significant effects during times of standoffs and high tensions between countries.
A Call for Cooperation
As tensions between India and China reach a breaking point, both countries must find alternative solutions to their water crises. These include building check dams, rain-capturing lakes, and using traditional means of water capture. A continuous dialogue between the two nations is essential to address issues like warnings of droughts, floods, and high water discharges. Both nations should also work towards sharing hydrological data and forming a water-sharing agreement. The future of the Brahmaputra River depends on the cooperation and collective action of both countries.
Last Modified: February 9, 2024