(a) whether China has reportedly approved construction of three more dams on the Brahmaputra
in Tibet in addition to the one being built;
(b) if so, the details thereof and its likely impact on the interests of India;
(c) whether the Government has taken up the issue with China;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of China thereto; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to safeguard the interests of the country in
the matter?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI SALMAN KHURSHID)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 47 REGARDING
`CONSTRUCTION OF NEW DAMS BY CHINA` FOR ANSWER ON 27.02.2013
(a) to (e) The recently released ‘Outline of the 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and
Social Development of the People’s Republic of China’ indicates that three more hydropower
projects on the main stream of the Brahmaputra River in Tibet Autonomous Region have been approved
for implementation by the Chinese authorities. Government carefully monitors all developments on
the Brahmaputra River. As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the
waters of the River, India has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities,
including at the highest levels of the Government of the People’s Republic of China. India has
urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in
upstream areas.