India’s rights have to be well guarded and well protected: Sonowal on China’s new dam in Tibet

Sarbananda Sonowal.
| Photo Credit: R. RAGU

Adding to the concerns expressed by Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh over China’s proposed new dam over the Brahmaputra river in Tibet, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday said that India’s rights should be protected.

At the second meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) presided over by Mr. Sonowal here, the Inland Waterways Authority of India announced investments worth more than ₹50,000 crore in the next five years and also revealed a series of new initiatives across 21 inland waterway States worth over ₹1,400 crore.

“Our rights have to be well guarded and well protected,” Mr. Sonowal said to a question from The Hindu on the issue of China’s new dam. Officials in the know said that the exact nature and extent of the impact on India as a lower riparian nation has to be studied but it is bound to have an impact given the scale and size of the project.

If the dam comes up, the Brahmaputra ecosystem will become completely fragile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said earlier. “If the dam construction starts in China, the entire ecosystem that thrives on the Brahmaputra will reduce by 60%. This is disastrous for the entire Northeastern region,” he said earlier this week.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that it conveyed its “concerns” to China about the proposed mega hydropower project in the upstream Yarlung Tsangpo, which is the Tibetan name of Brahmaputra that flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. “As a lower riparian State with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week.

According to Chinese media, Beijing has approved the construction of the world’s largest dam, estimated at $137 billion on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet close to the Indian border.

Major upgrade of waterways

At the second edition of IWDC, which is the apex meet for policy deliberation on the promotion and propagation of inland waterways in the country, Mr. Sonowal said that over ₹23,000 crore has been earmarked for development of new national waterways and green shipping initiatives in inland waterways.

The first edition of the IWDC meeting was held in Kolkata last year.

A major policy initiative in the form of Riverine Community Development Scheme was mooted at the second edition of IWDC to improve the socio-economic well-being of coastal communities by developing infrastructure, promotion of trade and tourism along with riverine ecosystem, providing skill enrichment trainings and upgrading traditional knowledge of river of the communities in an attempt to upgrade the quality of lives of the people living by the banks of the national waterways.

“IWDC has anchored a new vista for cooperative federalism as both the governments at Union and the States discussed, deliberated, debated and dwelled on multiple aspects for strengthening of inland waterways. Historically, the role of inland waterways has been paramount for civilisations,” Mr. Sonowal stated. He said they are attempting to rejuvenate the support system of inland waterways so that railways and roadways can be decongested while also providing a viable, economic, sustainable and efficient mode of transportation for both passengers and cargo operators.

The day-long deliberations saw the Ministry explaining various initiatives launched and attempting to troubleshoot issues that have been held up, as senior officials were present and representatives from various States, including some Transport Ministers, raised their issues and sought clarifications.

Top performing cargo vessel owners were awarded for their role in the use of national waterways for movement of goods. The Central Database Module and issuance of certificates was launched with an aim to smoothen out the process of certification for vessel owners.

In an effort to ensure seamless and sustainable movement of Inland vessels and also ensure its safety, the National River Traffic and Navigation System (NRT&NS) has been launched.

Mr. Sonowal made several announcements including 1,000 green vessels to be launched in the next five years to boost green shipping in inland waterways, expansion of Kochi’s Water Metro Project to 15 cities of India including Guwahati, ship repair facilities to be established at more national waterways, 62 new jetties across States to ramp up inland waterways transport, Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism to be installed at all operational national waterways for seamless passenger movement as well as eight amphibian dredgers and four cutter suction dredgers to maintain fairway of waterways.