NEW DELHI: India said on Friday it had lodged a “serious protest” against China starting construction of a massive dam along the Indian Ocean. Brahmaputra Riverand accused Beijing of “illegal occupation“Following the unilateral decision to establish two new administrative counties to exercise jurisdiction over the areas belonging to the region, Ladakh area.
“We saw the relevant information released by Xinhua News Agency on December 25, 2024 Hydropower project It is located on the Brahmaputra River in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. As a downstream country with the right to use river waters, we have always expressed our views and concerns to China through large-scale projects on rivers within our borders through expert and diplomatic channels. These concerns have been reiterated, along with the need for transparency and consultation with all parties downstream countriesAccording to the latest reports,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a press conference.
Jaiswal added: “We have urged China to ensure that the interests of countries downstream of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in the upper reaches. We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests.”
Jaiswal’s response comes after China approved plans to build what has been described as the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet near the Indian border.
The massive infrastructure project, estimated to cost $137 billion, has alarmed downstream countries such as India and Bangladesh about potential impacts on water flows and regional stability.
The investment could exceed 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion), far more than any existing infrastructure project in the world, including China’s Three Gorges Dam, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday.
where the dam will be built
The dam is planned to be built over a huge gorge in the Himalayan region where the Brahmaputra river takes a sharp turn before entering Arunachal Pradesh and flowing into Bangladesh.
How will it affect India
According to the Press Trust of India news agency, India is concerned about the dam as it not only enables China to control the flow of water in the river but also releases large amounts of water during potential hostilities due to its sheer size and scale, thereby bringing Risk of flooding.
He’an County and Hekang County
Regarding China’s establishment of two new counties in Ladakh, Jaiswal said, “We have lodged a solemn protest with China through diplomatic channels.”
“We have seen the announcement of the establishment of two new counties in China’s Hotan region. Part of the jurisdiction of these so-called counties falls under the Union Territory of Ladakh, India. We have never accepted China’s illegal occupation of Indian territory in this region,” Jaiswal said.
The establishment of new counties will not affect India’s consistent position on sovereignty in the region, nor will it provide legitimacy to China’s illegal occupation of the region.
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council authorized the establishment of two new administrative regions, He’an County and Hekang County.
