Arunachal Pradesh: CM Prema Khandu said the center would construct a barrage on Siang to counter the threat from China

To protect the Siang River from possible risks presented by the enormous Chinese dam being constructed on the river Tsangpo in Tibet, the Center on Thursday recommended to build a sizable barrage on the river. According to reports, the area and Arunachal Pradesh, India, share a boundary.

Prior to entering Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang, the Tsangpo runs through Tibet. The same river then changes into the Brahmaputra in Assam and the Jamuna in Bangladesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, made the declaration today in the State Legislative Assembly in response to a debate that Congress MLA Lombo Tayeng had started during Zero Hour.

What was said by CM Khandu?
According to CM Khandu, the Chinese government intends to construct a dam on the Tibet bank of the Siang River with a capacity of around 60,000 MW.

“The Indian government has voiced concerns about the effects of China’s proposal on Siang. What will the Siang’s state be if this (the Chinese dam) occurs? We may be able to cross the river on foot since the river may recede as a result of water diversion. If too much water is discharged, there is a risk of severe flooding in the Siang region, Assam, and possibly Bangladesh.

The Chief Minister said at a Zero Hour discussion that Congress MLA Lombo Tayeng had started, “In case of excess water, we need to have big structures to protect ourselves from floods… the center too has expressed concern and plans to build a barrage so we can keep Siang alive.”

The government’s first geographic survey work in the Siang Valley was being obstructed, according to Mr. Khandu, who noticed this and said he intended to personally go there to “request villagers cooperate and allow survey and investigation work for proposed barrage.”

Floods and soil erosion affecting thousands of hectares of cultivated land will occur if water is diverted. Once the poll is finished, the center will be able to provide us a comprehensive picture of the situation, he added.