Global Alarm Over China's 'Great Bend Dam' Project on Brahmaputra

International experts express alarm over China's 'Great Bend Dam' on Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) due to potential ecological and geopolitical impacts. Urgent calls for India-China water-sharing agreements and international support to counter China's ambitious dam projects in the face of climate change challenges are highlighted at a Guwahati seminar.

International experts voiced grave concerns at the 'International Seminar on Ensuring Water Security, Ecological Integrity, and Disaster Resilience' in Guwahati regarding China's 'Great Bend Dam' planned on the Yarlung Tsangpo, known as the Brahmaputra in Tibet. Experts warned of the severe downstream impacts due to China's plans to divert this vital water source.

Senior BJP leader and Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao described the dam plan as a 'water bomb' against India and other lower riparian countries. He called attention to past flooding catastrophes linked to similar upstream manipulations by China, advocating for protective measures, including constructing a counter dam on the Siang river.

Highlighting geopolitical dimensions, Bertil Linter, an expert on Asian politics, noted China's extensive dam operations on major Asian rivers, urging India to secure a water-sharing pact with China to prevent bilateral conflicts. The seminar, led by Asian Confluence, emphasized international collaboration, advocating for scientific studies and global awareness to counter potential ecological threats.

(With inputs from agencies.)