China has been accused of diverting water from the Himalayas through a series of dams and underground tunnels. Media reports suggested that the world’s second largest economy is channeling water from the upstream Tibetan section of the trans-boundary Brahmaputra river.
This normally flows through China, India and Bangladesh, but now it is being partially redirected to irrigate the arid Taklamakan Desert in southern Xinjiang more than 100 kilometers away.
India’s media have been quick to pounce on satellite images taken last month by the geospatial imaginary firm DigitalGlobe in the United States.
Last week, the New Delhi-based startup, The Print, reported that the Brahmaputra river appeared to disappear into a 900-meter underground tunnel in Tibet, where the river is also called Yarlung Tsangpo.
The media outlet cited latest satellite imagery that showed “a massive new dam” with an underground tunnel that engulfs the entire water flow for almost 1 kilometer.
One dam located about 100 kilometers west of the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, seems to be forcing water into two 50-meter outlets.
The geography of the area clearly indicates that China could be planning to divert the water to southern Xinjiang, according to The Print.
The topography around the project site on the Tibetan plateau and the Taklamakan basin suggests that water would be able to flow naturally without any additional large storage wells.
But The Print stressed that its information came from low resolution images, while that the Indian authorities have yet to confirm the actual existence of a new dam or the related projects.
Yesterday, China’s media completely brushed aside the accusations, branding the reports “hysterical.” Indian news outlets were also warned not to meddle in China’s hydraulic and irrigation projects within its own borders.
Still, The Times of India reported last month that the color of the Brahmaputra river had changed from “crystal to black with the presence of slag” in the water.
The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong also revealed earlier this year that Chinese engineers were testing techniques which could be used to build a 1,000km tunnel.
It would be the world’s longest and it would be able to carry water from Tibet to Xinjiang.
But then, China’s ability to construct monster infrastracture projects on one of the world’s highest plateaus is illustrated by the 1,900km Qinghai–Tibet railway link, which was commissioned a decade ago.
Indeed, the country has rolled out a series of high-profile programs in Tibet from combating poverty to boosting border defenses.
Now, the underwater tunnel to be excavated at the bottom of the mountain range is just another on Beijing’s growing list of mega developments for the autonomous region.
India must initiate international arbitration to stop this Chinese action if not take unilateral action just like China did to ensure the non interruption of the Brhmaputra river water flow to India & Bangladesh.
The Tibetan plateau is in the Himalayan rain shadow and it is relatively dry. The Indian monsoon produces 70% of the run off in the Brahmanputra on the Indian side. The flow from the Chinese side is from snow melt. Thus India is having the lion’s share of the Brahmanputra flow.
What the Chinese does with their snow melt is well within their share of the total flow unless India intend to share the total water flow equally.
No sane neighbors want Indian to join OBOR…..
[1] Where a river flows, people living by the bank make use of its water: to irrigate farm land or quench thirst; or to dump dead bodies and dead cows, discharge raw sewage and industrial wastes, or to defeacate into the water. If the river is in your country and you choose to do what you do, who is to object?
[2] India is arguing that as a lower riparian state it should have priority over an upper riparian state. The Brahmas can argue till the holy cow comes back, but it remains a flatulent logic.
[3] As a country that embraces socialist principles, it is incumbent on China to reduce wealth inequality, and, in this case, to alleviate water shortage in other parts of the country through, among others, water diversion.
[4] Mega Projects are China’s strength. Neigbouring countries should take advantage of what China can offer. Some countries may choose irrational hubris to economic cooperation.
Jo Snow: News say china is the worst abuser of internet freedom 3rd time in a row in 2017. Websites banned by Chinese govt. from providing any online news to its people. Chinese people only read whatever their govt want them to read. No wonder you’re so ignorant or you simply like to write nonsense. China is literally begging India to join OBOR. News say "china continue to urge India to join OBOR" which is basically a debt trap. This OBOR will be ruination for the smaller countries. China will lend money for OBOR projects to host countries at high interest rates which countries won’t be able to pay back. This can lead to China acquiring equity & controlling stakes in these projects, getting a permanent footprints in small countries which is nearly impossible for it to achieve otherwise. That’s all they think about – how to loot, plunder, bullying, stealing, setting traps to lure innocent people, because their thinking & brain are as small as their eyes
Latest satellite imagery shows the river Bramputra disappearing into a 900 M underground tunnel in china. US commercial vendor of space imagery digital global, indicates china building a massive dam on Bramputra, yarlong tsangpo in Tibetan(which is illegally occupied by china) with an underground tunnel that seems to engulf the entire water flow for almost one kilometer. Can’t blame you for writing nonsense because you don’t know anything. News say "china is the worst abuser of internet freedom". Chinese govt cracks down on "free expression" under jinpin information security policy. 7 year prison for spreading rumors on social media. Being Chinese, Even if you want to write something sensible, you can’t. You might get arrested & your organs might be sold to the highest bidder
Indians are known as notorious drivers. They have to train more competent drone operators to prevent their drones from crashing into the Yarlung Sampo diversion dams.
Rohit, based on your logic, India has no right to the water either. It’s all belongs to Bangladesh.
TIT FOR TAT.
Yesterday China got scared and ran from the UN discussion of OBOR because of the push back from major economies asking questions about the financing model & the environmental impact of OBOR/ BRI. They couldn’t even able to defend their own priority issues. China is running scared! Its just a matter of time before China loses its entire border with India. Just wait & watch!
Kwan Tuck Bro Bangladesh will get nothing from India cuz those elephant head slumdogs will gobble up anything on their way. Ask Bhutan, Nepal, Srilanka, Bangladesh & their arch rival Pakistan.
India has bullied every country around it for ages. China is justice to the atrocities committed by India. Hail China.
Jo Snow Indians are the ugliest nation on the planet. They are picking on Chinese eyes. Lolz. Carrying tons of poos in their ass they definitely need some water man. Pls reconsider.
Thiru Ravi loooollllzzzz.
Upper riparian !!! Wow that means if chinese piss there, it will automatically reach India.
Tariq Bappi: Dogs don’t even shit where they eat. Namakharaam. Your new master China is short lived. China is surrounded by 400 US military bases. US missiles are pointed at China from Okinawa to southern Korea. American bases are encircling china with missiles, bombers, warships-all the way from Australia through the Pacific to Asia and beyond, ready to attack. Two third of the US naval & Air Forces concentrate only in indo-pacific, the biggest build up of US Army since WW II, clearly aimed at China. While china has no army bases close to US. China poses no demonstrable threat to US. And people like you (Be Paindi ka lota) will come back with your tounge wagging begging for crumbs from India
This is what India is doing in Nepal n Bangladesh …………so what’s the difference . First c on u .
This is what / like Indian is doing in Nepal n Bangladesh …………..what the difference . C on u too