The Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat has recently said in the Rajya Sabha that India is concerned about construction of a dam over Brahmaputra river by China in the Tibet Autonomous Region. As per information available with the Ministry, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh had written to the External Affairs Minister on October 11, 2010 regarding the River Water Diversion Project in China.    

Chief Minister of Assam had also written to the External Affairs Minister on June 15, 2011 conveying concern of the people of Assam regarding reports about the construction of a dam in the upper reaches of river Brahmaputra in China.    

Besides this, Governor of Bihar also had written to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on February 27 in 2012 expressing concern on construction activity by China on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet Autonomous Region. The recently released ‘Outline of the 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China’ indicates that three dam projects on the main stream of the Brahmaputra River in Tibet Autonomous Region have been approved for implementation by the Chinese Authorities.    

Government of India monitors various developments on the Brahmaputra River. As a lower riparian State with considerable established user rights to the waters of the river, India has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities. India has urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas.