China’s plan to divert water from the Brahmaputra in Tibet to the “parched Xinjiang region” in China by building a 1,000-km-long tunnel, the world’s longest, will prove to be an environmental disaster (“China plans tunnel from Brahmaputra”, Oct. 31).
The greater Himalayan region has many weak geological zones and a project of this magnitude will result in a catastrophe. There is also a need to preserve the unique fauna and flora here and all natural resources. We can ill-afford to create problems.
P. Narahari,
Hyderabad
It is not only India but also Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh that heavily depend on south flowing rivers that originate in Tibet. Currently, many of the Himalayan rivers have been relatively untouched by dams near their sources. China, which is building multiple dams on all the major rivers originating off the Tibetan plateau, is likely to emerge as the ultimate controller of water for nearly 40% of the world’s population. The Tibetan plateau is the source of the single largest collection of international rivers which include the Mekong, the Brahmaputra and the Yangtze. Even though China has dismissed reports about it diverting the waters of Brahmaputra, the fact is that it is secretive. With Pakistan we have an internationally validated treaty which has stood the test of time, but with China we have no such treaties nor is China under any obligation to respect such bilateral accords. In the absence of a water treaty between India and China, one has to depend on Beijing’s assurances. China has a penchant for massive engineering projects that should not be overlooked. India has a problem on its hands and should ensure that the future of millions who depend on these water flows is not jeopardised.
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bengaluru