By IANS,
Shillong : It is vital to check if China is indeed building a dam on the Brahmaputra before indulging in speculation, Arunachal Pradesh Governor J.J. Singh has said.
The former army chief said reports that China’s moves would divert the river water into Chinese arid provinces should be corroborated with facts at the ground.
“We must not be carried away by information which is not based on facts on the ground,” the retired general told IANS.
“Today, the government is in a position to know whether it is a dam or a run-off river project.
“It can all be studied by satellites, and it should be conveyed to people in a logical manner and there should be no cause for speculative reporting,” Singh said.
According to reports, China is building a dam in Tibet to divert the Tsangpo river, the source of the Brahmaputra, which originates from the Himalayas.
Other experts say that if the project is commissioned, it would almost certainly have devastating consequences on the lives of millions in India and Bangladesh.
Apart from the dam, China is reportedly planning to divert 200 billion cubic metres of water to feed the Yellow river in an attempt to ease the acute water shortage in Shaanxi, Hebel, Beijing and Tianjin.
The “South-to-North Water Diversion” project is reportedly being debated in Beijing for its technical feasibility.
India and China do not have a water-sharing agreement. Until recently, water sharing was never on the agenda of bilateral talks between the two countries.
At the same time, the former army chief admitted to the presence of Chinese troops in disputed areas along the Arunachal border between India and China.
“As such there is no Chinese intrusion in Arunachal, but there is a Chinese presence in certain disputed areas which are perceived by them as theirs and our patrols go similarly to certain areas, which we perceive is ours,” Singh said.
He said India was fully prepared to defend its territorial integrity.
“There are measures in place for maintaining peace and tranquility on the border and to defend our territorial integrity,” he added.
The India-China border along Arunachal Pradesh is separated by the McMahon Line, now known as the Line of Actual Control.
India and China fought a border war in 1962, with Chinese troops advancing deep into Arunachal Pradesh.
China has never recognised the 1914 McMahon Line and claims 90,000 sq km – nearly all of Arunachal. India also accuses China of occupying 8,000 sq km in Kashmir.
“The leadership of both countries are displaying statesmanship and pragmatism in dealing with several issues,” he said.