Guwahati, July 10: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday stated that the mega dam being constructed by China on the Yarlung Tsangpo river near the state border is a grave concern for India.
Khandu described the dam as a ticking “water bomb,” calling it an existential threat and a bigger issue than anything else apart from the military threat.
The Arunachal CM emphasised that Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,200 km border with Tibet, not China.
“Officially, yes, Tibet is under China now. That can’t be ruled out, but originally, we shared a border with Tibet,” Khandu told a news agency in Delhi.
He added that India would have fewer concerns if China were a signatory to an international water treaty. “Suppose the dam is built, and they suddenly release water — our entire Siang belt would be destroyed,” he said.
In response to the perceived threat, Khandu said the Arunachal government, in consultation with the Centre, has proposed the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, both as a defensive measure and to ensure water security.
However, local communities have opposed the project and have staged a series of protests over the years.
The chief minister said he was uncertain whether construction of the Chinese dam had begun, pointing out that China does not share any information. He has consistently expressed concern that the project could reduce water flow in the Siang and Brahmaputra rivers.
