What are the problems faced by people?
- Inhabitants along the river have to deal with two floods annually, one caused by the melting of the Himalayan snow in summer and the other due to the monsoon flows.
- The frequency of these floods have increased and are devastating due to climate change and its impact on high and low flows.
- These pose a concern for the population and food security in the lower riparian states of India and Bangladesh.
- The river is in itself dynamic as frequent landslides and geological activity force it to change course very often.
Why China is making the dam?
- As India and China continue to grow demographically as well as economically amid increased consumption among its citizenry, both nations face water constraints.
- China, which is home to close to 20 per cent of the world’s population, has only 7per cent of its water resources.
- Severe pollution of its surface and groundwater caused by rapid industrialisation is a source of concern for Chinese planners.
- China’s southern regions are water-rich in comparison to the water-stressed northern part.
- The southern region is a major food producer and has significant industrial capacity as a consequence of more people living there.
- It has caused immense damage to the environment and altered river flows in the region. China sees these projects as a continuation of their historic tributary system as the smaller states have no means of effectively resisting or even significant leverage in negotiations.
- Chinese projects in the Himalayas have only recently begun to operate amid protests from India.
What are threats in front of India?
- First, they will eventually lead to degradation of the entire basin.
- Second, the Brahmaputra basin is one of the world’s most ecologically sensitive zone. This region sees several species of flora and fauna that are endemic to only this part of the world.
- Third, the location of the dams in the Himalayas poses a risk.
Brahmaputra
- The Brahmaputra is a perennial river, with several peculiar characteristics due toits geography and prevailing climatic conditions.
