(a) whether the Government of China has ruled out any plan to divert
the Brahmaputra river`s waters to tackle the water shortages, even as
hydropower industry groups have renewed calls on the Government to lift
a suspension on dam projects on the river`s fast-flowing upper and middle
reaches to address a power crisis;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the reaction of the Indian Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES & MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) to (c) As informed by Ministry of External Affairs, the Chinese Premier
during his visit to India in December 2010 conveyed that China’s development of
upstream areas of Brahmaputra will be on the basis of scientific planning and
study and will never harm downstream interests. The Chinese side has also
conveyed that the on-going project at Zangmu on Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra)
will not store water or regulate the volume of water, and therefore, will not
have an adverse impact on the downstream areas. The Government has ascertained
from its own sources that Zangmu project is a run-of-the-river hydro-electric
project, which does not store water and will not adversely impact the downstream
areas in India. In October 2011, Vice Minister of Chinese Ministry of Water
Resouces also stated that the Chinese Government has no plan to conduct any
diversification project on Yarlung Zangbo River. During his interaction with
Prime Minister in Bali in November 2011, Chinese Premier reiterated that China
has always acted responsibly with respect to development and use of trans-border
rivers and China takes into full account the impact of such development on the
lower reach countries.