Remote sensing confirms China building dam

[Caoriben]

Posted: Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009 at 0842 hrs New Delhi:
Ravish Tiwari (http://www.indianexpress.com/columnist/ravishtiwari/)Tags : Brahmaputra river (http://javascript<b></b>:keySub('Brahmaputra river')), National Remote Sensing Agency (http://javascript<b></b>:keySub(' National Remote Sensing Agency')), India (http://javascript<b></b>:keySub(' India')), China (http://javascript<b></b>:keySub(' China'))
http://static.indianexpress.com/m-images/2009-11-04/M_Id_118053_front.jpg
Satellite pictures show construction on the Chinese side of the Brahmaputra

The National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) confirmed on Tuesday that construction was on at the Zangmu site on the Chinese side of the Brahmaputra river, prompting the government to take up the matter with China at a “political” level.

In its presentation to the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) formed to assess Chinese plans regarding possible diversion of the Brahmaputra’s water, the NRSA presented evidence of “houses, construction/excavation, and movement of trucks” in and around a 3-4 km range at the site.

Accordingly, the CoS, headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, decided that the issue was too significant to be handled by the expert-level mechanism on flood-water data-sharing. Instead, it decided that it would be better to tackle the issue at the political level through the Ministry of External Affairs.

The meeting of the CoS, also attended by RAW chief K C Verma, representatives of Environment, Water, Power, and External Affairs Ministries, decided to “constantly monitor” various aspects of the construction through different sub-groups set up by the CoS.

The CoS also decided that a subgroup on power should coordinate with all departments concerned to “expedite” hydro-power projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

Sources said it’s possible that construction was for a water storage project. However, the real intention of the project isn’t very clear.

The NRSA’s findings confirm The Indian Express report last month on the ongoing construction for a dam on the river which China calls the Yarlungzangbo (better known as Yarlong Tsangpo to the Tibetans) at Zangmu.

It’s learnt that the Zangmu hydroelectrical project was inaugurated on March 16 this year and the first concrete was poured on April 2. The 1.138-billion Yuan (1 Yuan = $0.15) project has been awarded to a five-company consortium with China Gezhouba Group along with NIDR (China Water Northeastern investigation, design and research) involved in its construction.

Involved in its financing is the Huaneng Corporation, one of China’s biggest power companies.

The proposed dam was planned to generate 540 MW; its height at 116 m, length 389.5 m, width at the top 19 m and at the bottom, 76 m.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had taken up this matter with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summit late last month.

The construction raised concerns as there is no treaty between the two countries over trans-boundary rivers. Both set up an expert level group in 2006 to discuss sharing of flood-related data.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/remote-sensing-confirms-china-building-dam/537101/1

[Jiggy]

didn't even know they got started on it already, gotta say the chinese are quick lol.

don't wanna sound like a pessimist, but this will most likely lead to a conflict in the near future, esp. with how quick that dam is being built.

most if not all of india's clean water comes from there.

[CS1.6]

this is very interesting, let's see.

[Blue_0]

didn't even know they got started on it already, gotta say the chinese are quick lol.

don't wanna sound like a pessimist, but this will most likely lead to a conflict in the near future, esp. with how quick that dam is being built.

most if not all of india's clean water comes from there.

A bottle of water costs more then equivelent amount of gas here in the USA. I could see that getting very messy very quick.

-- Bluelight

[deathil93]

yup, two nuclear armed nations, with large armies, both are 3rd world countries, one of them is basically stealing water from the other, its how wars get started, hack, people fought over less than that...

[2495]

China going to cut off / restrict Indias water? thats not going to be a friendly / short war - Talk about a flash point. What the hell are the Chinese thinking?

[Connaught Ranger]

Remote sensing = Clairvoyance an not satellite imagery. woot

[hulaku]

The Indian media lately has been going bonkers over anything China related so I dont really know how serious this is.

[hskywalker]

yup, two nuclear armed nations, with large armies, both are 3rd world countries, one of them is basically stealing water from the other, its how wars get started, hack, people fought over less than that...
We are more like 2.5rd world country now.

[2495]

Remote sensing = Clairvoyance an not satellite imagery. woot


^^ Fail.

Remote viewing is Clairvoyance type skill. Remote sensing is done by satellites and UAV airframes.

[caksz]

There are issue about india building dams and cause a water shortage inside pakistan

http://wdsi.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/water-disputes-between-india-and-pakistan-%E2%80%93-a-potential-casus-belli/

[hulaku]

There are issue about india building dams and cause a water shortage inside pakistan

http://wdsi.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/water-disputes-between-india-and-pakistan-%E2%80%93-a-potential-casus-belli/

From the link you have quoted


“India, working in conjunction with the Jewish lobby” is using most of the river waters, causing a shortage of food, water and electricity in Pakistan.

OMG its the Juice again.

Fvcking hilarious

[Switek]

Theres only message for everyone: save storage as much fresh water as you can. In 50-100 years it will be one of the most expensive natural resource.

[ATV]

take it easy Guys Everything is Under Control ;)

http://i978.photobucket.com/albums/ae262/atv_photo/06_11_2009_004_002.jpg

[hskywalker]

There are issue about india building dams and cause a water shortage inside pakistan

http://wdsi.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/water-disputes-between-india-and-pakistan-%E2%80%93-a-potential-casus-belli/
Interesting article. China can adopt the indian altitude: " We understand your concern, but the project does you no harm.".

"Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must."
---Thucydides

[Daft Ego]

Theres only message for everyone: save storage as much fresh water as you can. In 50-100 years it will be one of the most expensive natural resource.

Uh not necessarily. Water treatment in modern cities are doing just fine.

[hulaku]

Interesting article. China can adopt the indian altitude: " We understand your concern, but the project does you no harm.".


But will the Jewish Lobby back you?p-)

[Darklord]

Interesting article. China can adopt the indian altitude: " We understand your concern, but the project does you no harm.".

"Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must."
---Thucydides

I suggest you read the article fully before embarking on a path of jingoism.

[Connaught Ranger]

^^ Fail.

Remote viewing is Clairvoyance type skill. Remote sensing is done by satellites and UAV airframes.

So why not call it what it is "Spy Satellite Imagery" p-)

[Keshik]

china has biggest hydropotential in the world and is activly building reservoars ,
also to sustain its growing energy demands with cheap energy supply.
the big construction boom in amerika was form 1930s to 1980s
in china its just startin from 1980s to 2030 plan.
biggest top 8 dams currently in construction in world is from China.

[cn_habs]

From the link you have quoted



OMG its the Juice again.

Fvcking hilarious

Talk about double standards from those Indians rofl

[hskywalker]

china has biggest hydropotential in the world and is activly building reservoars ,
also to sustain its growing energy demands with cheap energy supply.
the big construction boom in amerika was form 1930s to 1980s
in china its just startin from 1980s to 2030 plan.
biggest top 8 dams currently in construction in world is from China.
My hometown has just finished the first high speed rail link in October, and that's one of reasons to prompt me quitting my former job and planning returning home. Among other things, believing prosperity finally reached my hometown.

Talking about the america and their own different kind of stimulus, I always thought america is more or less saturated and thus can't be stimulated as well as China, no such great need. America needs some techknowledge breakthough like the IT boom to achieve another prosperity.

Mods forgive me for hijacking this thread, some ideas just burst out of my head.:roll: I will end here....

[welshmann]

Uh not necessarily. Water treatment in modern cities are doing just fine.

yeah,i will never look at a glass of water the same.cant belive what it is...but tastes great!

[Caoriben]

Ajit Patowary
GUWAHATI, Nov 7 – In the wake of the reported Chinese bid to dam the Brahmaputra and ultimately to divert its course in Tibet, people’s organizations in Arunachal Pradesh have urged the Indian Government to be consistent in its efforts at dissuading the Chinese authorities from such initiatives. Such a bid on the part of the Chinese authorities has the potential of making life hell for the people of the NE part of India. The Chinese authorities should be made to comply with the internationally accepted principle that there should not be any attempt at interfering with the river systems upstream without properly assessing the downstream impacts of such acts involving the downstream area people, said these organizations.

Some of them are critical also of the similar bids undertaken by the Indian Government to build dams across various Arunachal Pradesh rivers.

If a dam is built on the Brahmaputra in Tibet and its course is diverted, these will result in serious livelihood problems for the people of NE India, besides severe ecological problems. The very existence of the NE Indian people depends on the existence of the Brahmaputra, said Sunil Mao, convenor of the Arunachal Pradesh unit of the Human Rights Law Network.

Bamang Antony, chairman of the Arunachal Citizens’ Rights, said that the Government of India should immediately intervene into the matter as the people of NE will otherwise be the worst sufferers.

He said that a few years back his organization had submitted a memorandum to the Indian Government alleging that attempts were there to interfere with the Brahmaputra river system inside Tibet. “As our allegation has come true, the Indian Government should act immediately to ensure that there is no interference with the Brahmaputra river system,” said Antony.

He also regretted that the Indian Government was not active during the 2004 flood in the Siang, which was caused by certain developments in the upper reaches of the river in Tibet. It needs mention here that the Siang is known in Tibet as the Tsangpo or the Yarlung Tsangpo, which has flowed into Assam as the Brahmaputra.

Domin Loya, vice-chairman of the NEFA Indigenous Human Rights Organization, is also of the same opinion. China should not be allowed to dam the Brahmaputra or to divert its course, he added.

At the same time, Loya said, GoI should also ensure that no mega dam is built on the Arunachal Pradesh rivers. GoI should care more for the well-being of its own people. Rights of the Arunachalis to life and property should be GoI’s first priority.

“Most of the Arunachalis consider bids to construct any mega dams on any of the Arunachal rivers as an hostile act to them. Considering their cumulative impacts, such bids have no difference with the Chinese bids to dam the Brahmaputra,” he added.

General secretary of the Idu Misimi Students’ Union Tony Macro said, the GoI should tell the Chinese authorities in unambiguous terms that if they want to have a cordial relation with India, it should also pay heed to the voice of the Indian people. The reports of the Chinese bid to dam and to divert the Brahmaputra has caused much alarm among the people of the NE region and this should be conveyed to the Chinese Government in right earnest, Macro said.

On the other hand, he said, Indian Government is also damming the Arunachal rivers. It should listen to the concerns expressed by the people of the NE region on these dams, he too added.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=nov0809/at05

[wild_wild_wes]

"Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over." - Mark Twain

[T3ngu]

Uh not necessarily. Water treatment in modern cities are doing just fine.

Not quite true. The standard of treatment required is gradually rising due to community expectations and a growing buildup of certain chemical species and compounds in the water. Its not an infinite resource.