Abstract: Does run-off-the
river power project serve the Chinese interests? The answer is
negative. Although, China does require electricity but water is
essential. There are five dams under construction, for time being on
middle reaches not to exclusively generate the electricity but to store the
water and then channelize the water to northern regions through western route
of South-North Water Diversion Project.
……………………………………………………….
Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime
Minister of India assured the Rajya Sabha on ongoing construction of dams on
the Brahmaputra River that it is a run-of-the-river project, intervening in the
reply to a question addressed to the external affairs minister. He also sought
to put to rest the controversy and said ‘unnecessary provocation’ on either
side can hurt the relations between the two countries. There is no doubt that
this shows maturity of Indian strategic thinking to construct ‘sustainable confidence’
and boost up the Indo-China relations. But at the same time, it also suggests
the failure of Indian diplomacy and reminds us of consequences of blind trust
in Chinese dragon. Chinese assurances on the issue of staple visa have fallen
flat. India, therefore must not acknowledge Chinese assurance
without having credible and authentic information about the ongoing project.
Zangmu Power Project, compromises a series of five dams
namely Dhongzhong, Guoduo, Xiangda, Ruxi and Linchang, which will be
constructed on the middle reaches of the main stream and would have installed
capacity of 510MW.
Being
upper riparian, China has to take into confidence the lower riparian countries,
India and Bangladesh, before going ahead with the proposed project. But Beijing unilaterally chose to construct a
series of dam on middle reaches of the river to produce electricity to develop
the ‘occupied’ region of Tibet.
Nonetheless, the project will have devastating effect on Tibetan
ecology.
China
is in dire need of water for its thirsty northern region and to fulfil its
developmental goals. Further, it desperately seeks to solve the siltation
problem of the Three Georges Dam and more water from the south i.e. diversion
of water through its South-North Water transfer project will definitely ease
the crisis. Earlier it was believed that
damming the Brahmaputra River on the Great Bend near Namcha- Barwa will easily
divert the water to northern regions of China. However, technical difficulties
and ecological ramifications were much higher than anticipated.
Brahmaputra is a
trans-boundary river. Damming her could have international dimensions. It could
trigger ‘limited confrontation’ with lower riparian countries, India and
Bangladesh. Beijing is not in position
to hamper relations with its neighbours as it is imperative for peaceful rise
of China.
Survival
is primacy concern for any nation-state and interest changes according to circumstances. China needs water but at minimum cost. China
thus slightly modified, for time being, it’s previous plan of South-North Water
transfer Project and have put a little less complicated plan to dam the
Brahmaputra River by constructing a series of dam instead of diverting the
whole water flow towards northern regions by changing the path of river at the Great
Bend. It serves twin objectives for Beijing.
Firstly, a small hydro project minimises the concerns of lower riparian
countries by claiming that it is meant for electricity generation and it is
run-off project. And here Indian strategists failed to understand the hidden
objectives of
China and once again
affirmed the faith in her giant neighbour. Secondly, Zangmu Power project will provide
water to its northern regions. Does run-off-the river power project serve the
Chinese interests? The answer is
negative. Although, China does require electricity but water is essential. There are five dams under construction, for
time being on middle reaches not to exclusively generate the electricity but to
store the water and then channelize the water to northern regions through
western route of South-North Water Diversion Project.
India
once again has not learnt from the past experiences and has affirmed faith in
Chinese assurances. India must explore all the possible ramifications of Zangmu
Power project before giving green signal to the project and not endanger her
own national interests for the sake of a so called ‘responsible and peaceful
neighbour’.
India,
with Bangladesh must raise the issue at highest political level with Chinese
authority to secure their legitimate rights to water as lower riparian states.
Any further delay and misapprehending the gravity of the situations will impede
the national interests of both India and Bangladesh and simultaneously suggest
the lack of strategic thinking in the Indian establishment.
China,
on its part, must invite Indian and Bangladeshi empowered delegation for
friendly visit (say inspection) to ongoing construction site of Zangmu power
project. It serves two purposes for
Beijing. Firstly, a visit to the site will confirm that China is indeed not undermining
the legitimate rights of lower riparian and the project is just a run-off-river
project and put to rest any trepidation on the ongoing project in India and
Bangladesh. Secondly, it will further enhance the Chinese image at world level
and in neighbourhood as a responsible actor. (published on Watershed: http://www.watershed.com.br/article/228/deciphering-the-aims-of-zangmu-power-project-on-the-brahmaputra-river.aspx)
