India’s rights must be well guarded and well protected: Sonowal on China’s new dam in Tibet

Sarbananda Sonowal. | Photo Credit: R. RAGU

Adding to the concerns expressed by the Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh about China’s proposed new dam on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet, Union Minister for Ports, Transport and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday that India’s rights must be protected.

In the second meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) chaired by Mr. Sonowal here, the Inland Waterways Authority of India announced an investment worth over Rs 50,000 crore over the next five years and also unveiled a series of 21 new projects. The inland waterway States worth more than Rs 1,400 crore.

“Our rights must be well guarded and well protected,” said Mr. Sonowal answered his question A Hindu in the case of China’s new dam. Officials in the know said the nature and extent of the impact on India as a downstream country needs to be studied but it will definitely have an impact given the scale and magnitude of the project.

If the dam rises, the Brahmaputra ecosystem will be completely fragile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said earlier. “If the construction of dams starts in China, all the natural growth in the Brahmaputra will decrease by 60%.” This is a tragedy for the entire North East region,” he said earlier this week.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has conveyed “concerns” to China about a proposed hydroelectric project upstream of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra that flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. “As a riparian region with established rights to use the river’s waters, we have consistently expressed, through professional levels and communication channels, our views and concerns on the Chinese side about major river projects in its territory,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week.

According to Chinese media, Beijing has approved the construction of the world’s largest dam, worth an estimated $137 billion, on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet near the Indian border.

Major improvements to waterways

In the second edition of the IWDC, which is a high-level forum for policy discussions on the development and distribution of inland waterways in the country, Mr. Sonowal said that more than Rs 23,000 crore has been earmarked for the development of new national highways and green shipping schemes. inland waters.

The first edition of the IWDC convention was held in Kolkata last year.

A major policy initiative in the form of the Riverine Community Development Scheme was proposed in the second edition of the IWDC to improve the socio-economic well-being of coastal communities by improving infrastructure, promoting trade and recreation and the river environment, providing skills enrichment training. and to improve the traditional knowledge of the communities’ rivers in an effort to improve the quality of life of the people living along the banks of the national rivers.

“IWDC has strengthened the new vision of cooperative federalism as both the Union and state governments discuss, consult, negotiate and focus on many things to strengthen inland waterways. Historically, the role of inland waterways has been very important to civilizations,” said Mr. Sonowal. He said they are trying to revive the inland waterways support system so that railways and roads can be decongested while providing an efficient, economical, sustainable and efficient mode of transport for passengers. and cargo operators.

In the discussions that lasted the whole day, the Department explained in detail the various programs that were introduced and trying to solve the problems that had been caught as senior officials were present and representatives of various Governments including the Minister of Transport expressed their problems and sought explanations.

Good performing cargo ship owners are awarded for their contribution to the use of national waterways for the transportation of goods. The Central Database Module and the issuing of certificates are introduced with the aim of speeding up the approval process for ship owners.

In an effort to ensure smooth and sustainable movement of inland waterways and to ensure their safety, the National River Traffic and Navigation System (NRT&NS) was launched.

Mr. Sonowal made several announcements including 1,000 green ships to be launched in the next five years to promote green shipping on inland waterways, expansion of Kochi’s Water Metro Project to 15 Indian cities including Guwahati, ship repair facilities to be established on many waterways. , 62 new jets in all states will strengthen transportation in inland waterways, Quick Pontoon Opening Method will be installed on all national roads for seamless passenger movement and eight amphibious dredgers and four cutter suction dredgers to maintain the fairway of waterways.