BJP suspects China role in dip in Bhramaputra levels in Arunachal

Itanagar: BJP has not ruled out a role by China in the steep fall in the level of the Siang river — one of the main tributaries of the Brahmaputra — in Arunachal Pradesh, a party release said today.

A five member party team headed by National General Secretary Tapir Gao visited the river, gathered local public opinion on the causes of the fall in water level and met officials of the Central Water Commission and the district administration during its three-day visit from 11 March, the release said.

The team did not rule out a role by China in the phenomenon and found reasons to believe that China may be diverting the waters of the river in Tibet, it said. There were apprehensions that many areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and even in Bangladesh would go dry if the Chinese went ahead with their plan of building a dam, the release said.

The team was informed that some areas in the upper reaches of the river Siang had almost dried up.

Stating that it was not possible to ascertain the causes in a single visit, it said, there was need for satellite-based observation on the phenomenon to reach a conclusion.

The team will submit its report to the national BJP president in three days time in New Delhi, and the party MPs will take up the issue in and outside the Parliament, the release said.

PTI