China’s Zangmu dam on the Tsangpo river (Brahmaputra) uses only run-of-the-river technology to produce hydropower and will not affect the flow downstream. The current scene is not worrisome, the Chinese say. The scenario is, however, frightening for India considering that China proposes to build 28 more dams in the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra river basin in Tibet.
The northeast of India is already afraid of being denied its rightful share of the waters of a river so mighty it has a masculine name, but which can be tamed with massive dams. India’s difficulties in its ties with China are well documented. So it is vital that India keep the conversation going with China to ensure that its rights are not trampled upon. International forums have to be tapped as China has not kept India in the loop while the Zangmu was built over the last six years.
The argument that dams in Tibet, which is generally drier and fed more by melting snow than rainfall, which of course is far more plentiful downriver in India, will not affect our interests could become fallacious if climate change robs us of the regular quota. From an international law point of view, it is important that a country set up more projects downstream to establish greater lower riparian water rights. India needs to do a lot more on the Brahmaputra if we are not to enter into a water war with China.
