China begins building dam on its side of the Brahmaputra
Pranab Dhal Samanta
Tags : China, Brahmaputra river, India, dam
Posted: Thursday , Oct 15, 2009 at 1456 hrs
New Delhi:
So far, Beijing has denied any plans to build a dam on its side of the Brahmaputra river. But
strong evidence has now emerged to suggest that China has begun constructing a dam on the
river which it calls the Yarlungzangbo (better known as Yarlong Tsangpo to the Tibetans).
It’s learnt that the Zangmu hydroelectrical project was inaugurated on March 16 this year and
the first concrete was poured on April 2.
The 1.138-billion Yuan (1 Yuan = $0.15) project has been awarded to a five-company
consortium with China Gezhouba Group along with NIDR (China Water Northeastern
investigation, design and research) involved in its construction.
Involved in its financing is the Huaneng Corporation, one of China’s biggest power
companies.
From preliminary information available with India, the Chinese plan to have a series of five
medium-sized dams along the river in the Nanshan region of Tibet at Zangmu, Jiacha or
Gyatsa, Zhongda, Jiexu and Langzhen.
Of this, sources said, detailed information so far is available on the Zangmu dam.
This dam is expected to generate 540 MW; its height will be 116 m and length 389.5 m, it’s
19 m wide at the top and 76 m wide at the bottom.
According to information that is being circulated by companies involved in the project, the
Zangmu dam is a gravity dam with water-blocking structures which could mean construction
of a reservoir.
Some academic articles had set off fears of hydroelectric projects and water diversion plans on
the Brahmaputra in Tibet about three years ago.
A worried India, as a lower riparian country, had taken up the matter with China. Beijing had
then assured New Delhi that these were just articles in the press and “no concrete decision”
had been taken.
The assumption here was that China was only looking at tributaries of the Brahmaputra but the
Zangmu dam project is well after all tributaries have joined the river.
The two countries had then agreed to establish a joint mechanism for sharing technical data on
rivers like the Brahmaputra and Sutlej.
This exchange, however, has been restricted to flood season data and Indian efforts to widen
the scope of information-sharing have not moved forward.
China, sources said, never informed India about its plans or this specific project.
Significantly, according to information received here, the Nanshan Regional Administration
issued orders as early as October 30, 2007 for evacuation of people from the area from
November 1, 2007.
According to the order, the dam site will include all areas up to 3310 m above sea level and
people inhabiting these heights were asked to vacate.
Earlier this month, the Gezhouba group is said to have gone public saying it had successfully
completed setting up the concrete feed line.
Satellite images from February show construction activity in Zangmu and Jiacha with evidence
of labour quarters.
The consequences to India from this project and the others about which little information is
known — can only be ascertained if more information is shared and teams are allowed to
access the site.
It’s learnt that the tendering process for this entire project is being overseen by the Three
Gorges International Corporation.
Along with India, Bangladesh is another country that would be affected by dams and has often
voiced concerns in this regard.