NEW DELHI (TIP): Alarmed over reports suggestingthat China proposed to construct three more dams onriver Brahmaputra in Tibet, India today asked Beijing toensure that the interests of downstream states were notharmed by any activities in upstream areas.Talking to reporters here, MEA spokesman SyedAkbaruddin said India continued to carefully monitorall developments on the Brahmaputra and has conveyedits “views and concerns” to the Chinese authorities,including at the highest levels.

“As a lower riparian state with considerableestablished user rights to the waters of the river, Indiahas conveyed its views and concerns to the Chineseauthorities, including at the highest levels of theGovernment of the People’s Republic of China. Indiaurges China to ensure that the interests of downstreamstates are not harmed by any activities in upstreamareas,” he said.He was responding to a query regarding Chinaapproving construction of three more dams onBrahmaputra river in Tibet in addition to the one beingbuilt.

A document approved by the Chinese Cabinet recentlymentioned three dams to be built at Dagu, Jiacha andJiexu on Brahmaputra, according to Indian officials inBeijing. The document listing projects to be completedin China’s 12th five year plan made a passing referenceto the three dams without any details, they said. Indiahas not been informed about the move so far.