New Delhi, November 19th: The recent floods that swept through parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia in the past year have been a warning sign for many countries, including Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.Experts warn that floods like this could be a common occurrence and suggest that the countries of the region work together to address the critical issue of sharing transboundary river waters.China’s multiple dams, which are being built to divert water from its territory, have exacerbated concerns about climate change.Beijing also changed its focus to expedite hydropower projects in order to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
According to sources, opacity in key information could cause serious concern and impact on lives and livelihoods.A researcher stated that “We already have to deal with the effects of climate change, and there are many dams being constructed that pose additional danger.”
Dams can cause flooding and droughts.Although water flow can be diverted to cause droughts, floods can result from excess water being released from dam reservoirs.
Beijing has already begun to move ahead with plans for the largest dam, a 60-gigawatt megadam, on the Brahmaputra River known as Yarlung Zangbao (Tibet).Hua Chunying, China’s spokesperson for foreign affairs has stated that Beijing would keep communication channels open to the two countries.
However there are no clear guidelines regarding information sharing.According to sources, there has not been any clear discussion on the project with India or Bangladesh.
India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary river systems, which include the Ganges or Brahmaputra.There are also other transboundary rivers like the Mekong, which China, Myanmar LaosCambodia Thailand, Vietnam and Thailand share.
China and Myanmar also share the Irrawady river.
China is involved in the construction of several small dams that run along the Yarlung Trsangpo’s mainline since 2010.
The Hindu reports that two have been built and three more are in construction.
India Narrative was informed by Bipul Chatterjee (Executive Director of CUTS International), that there is an urgent need for an intergovernmental body to investigate the matter.
Tempa Gyaltsen Zmlha (head of Environment and Development, Tibetan Policy Institute) told Al Jazeera the Chinese Communist Party would use it as a political instrument.
Tibet, which is one of the major rivers of South and Southeast Asia is often called “the water tower” in Asia.
China may be able to use water flow across border borders as a weapon for geopolitical purposes.The Mekong and Indus are two of the most important rivers in Asia that flow out of Tibet.
They provide water and food for the entire region.
NewSecurityBeat reported that China is facing a shortage of arable land.
According to estimates, only 14% of its total land could be considered arable.This exacerbates food safety and security, as well as water scarcity.
There are concerns about the Mekong River’s flow
India Narrative had earlier reported that the Mekong River Commission, an intergovernmental organization for regional dialogue in the basin of the Lower Mekong River based on the Mekong Agreement among the four Lower Mekong nations, has reported recent reports that the river’s water levels have fallen to “worryingly” low levels.
The region received less rainfall than usual since January 1, but this is due to flow changes, hydropower operations in Mekong tributaries, and restrictions on outflow from Jinghong hydropower plant in China’s Yunnan.
(The content of this article is carried in accordance with Indianarrative.com
–indianarrative #China #water #Asia #dams #Tibet #Delhi
