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India plans to construct the country’s second-largest dam at Yingkiong in Arunachal Pradesh to counter China’s ambitious water diversion scheme of the Brahmaputra River.
What are China’s plans for the Brahmaputra River?
China’s 14th five-year plan has proposed building a massive dam over the Brahmaputra river, known in China as the Yarlung Tsangpo.
Why is India apprehensive of China’s dams on the Brahmaputra River?
Firstly, the dams built by China are large enough to be turned into storage dams, which will allow it to manipulate the water resources freely for the purpose of flood control or irrigation. In such a scenario, China can potentially deprive India of water during dry seasons.
Secondly, India is also apprehensive about the release of water during the monsoons, which can inundate the already flooded Brahmaputra.
What are India’s plans to counter the Chinese water diversion scheme of the Brahmaputra River?
India has planned to construct the country’s second-largest dam at Yingkiong in Arunachal Pradesh.
The dam is part of the proposed Upper Siang multipurpose storage project that will also generate hydropower.
The dam will be able to store around 10 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water.
Note: By storage, the Indira Sagar Dam is the largest in India at 12.2 BCM.
Significance of this dam: India’s plan involves releasing water from the dam to maintain water security in case China builds structures to divert water. Also, in the case of China releasing water from its upper reaches, such a dam will also help in storing water to prevent floods.
Source: The post is based on the article “India plans dam project as China seeks to divert river” published in Livemint on 16th May 2022.
