Arunachal BJP MP raises concerns on China's 'Great Bend Dam' moves

BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh, Tapir Gao, on Tuesday said China's proposed construction of the 'Great Bend Dam' on the Yarlung Tsangpo River will severely affect the downstream regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and other northeastern states. He also said the Communist Party of China is likely to select the 15th Dalai Lama which will "change the entire demography of the Buddhist population in the Himalayan region from Walong in Arunachal to Jammu and Kashmir".

Experts on Tuesday expressed concern over China's proposed 'Great Bend Dam' on the Yarlung Tsangpo, as Brahmaputra is known in Tibet.

At a seminar, experts highlighted the possible devastating impact of the proposed series of dams, aimed at producing 60,000 MW of power.

"Brahmaputra, the son of Brahma, is the only male river originating from Mansarovar. China has only three major rivers, and there is a shortage of water. Tibetologists pointed out that the Chinese have already started building tunnels to divert water from Yarlung Tsangpo to the Yellow river," Gao said. The MP said: "I told in the Lok Sabha that China is not building dams, but making 'water bombs'. The disaster that can happen had its first glimpse in 2000."