Environment

Arunachal Pradesh MP Mr. Ering raise concern at downstream impact of Chinese dam

Dharamshala July 29: With reports that China has recently operationalzed the Zangmu Hydropower Project on Brahmaputra in Tibet, Member of Parliament Ninong Ering on Friday demanded the Centre to convey its concerns to the Chinese Government at highest level that the downstream states in India are not harmed by this mega dam.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Parliament, Ering expressed serious concern over the impending threat posed by the dam as the project could be used to regulate and control water downstream leading to water scarcity in entire North-Eastern region, including Arunachal Pradesh.

“Since we do not have river water sharing agreements with China, the Centre must register a strong protest against the nefarious Chinese activities at upstream,” Ering said.

“China has also proposed to construct three more dams, namely Dagu, Jiexu and Jiacha, and if all these dams are constructed then it will be devastating for India,” he said.

He urged India to start diplomatic talks with China and also to raise the issue during G20 Summit in China in September and BR1CS Summit in India in October this year and resolve the issue proactively and pragmatically.

Ering also raised the issue of discrimination and harassment towards NE students and other people from the region living in various parts of the country, especially metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, on different types of occupations by so called mainstream people.

Citing latest incidents of rape on three girls from Sikkim and questioning of a girl from Manipur over her nationality at airport, Ering requested the Minister for Women and Child Development to establish fast track courts and special North-East Cell in those One-Stop centres to ensure justice of the victims of such harassment.