Dam on Brahmaputra River by China According to reports, Zangmu hydroelectric project has been fully operationalized in October, 2015. The Outline of the 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the Peoples Republic of China indicates that three more hydropower 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 carefully monitors all developments on the Brahmaputra River. These four projects are considered to be Run of the River (RoR) hydro-electric projects. As a lower riparian State with considerable established user rights to the waters of the River, India has conveyed the views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China. India has urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas. During Prime Ministers meeting with Chinese President Xi-Jinping on the side-lines of the Fifth BRICS Summit in Durban, South Africa on 27th March, 2013, President Xi assured our Prime Minister that they were quite conscious of their responsibilities and the interests of the lower riparian countries. In 2006, the two sides established an India China Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) on Trans-border Rivers. During the then Prime Ministers visit to China in October, 2013, the two Governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Cooperation on Trans-border Rivers. The Joint Statement issued during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modis visit to China in May, 2015 states, The two sides will further strengthen cooperation through the Expert Level mechanism on the provision of flood-season hydrological data and emergency management and exchange views on other issues of mutual interest." This information was given by Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. Samir/jk
