'Govt carefully monitoring all developments on Brahmaputra river': MEA on Chinese media reports

Addressing a press conference in the national capital on December 03, Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Anurag Srivastava spoke on Chinese media reports that China plans to build mega hydropower project on Brahmaputra river.

Srivastava said, "Government has been carefully monitoring all the developments in Brahmaputra river.

As a lower Riparian state with considerable established user rights to water of the trans-border rivers, we consistently conveyed concerns to China." "We have urged them to ensure that interest of downstream states isn't harmed by activities in upstream areas.

The Chinese side has conveyed to us on several occasions that they are only undertaking run of river hydropower projects which don't involve diversion of waters of Brahmaputra," he added.

"Various issues relating to transborder rivers discussed with China under ambit of institutionalised expert-level mechanism established in 2006 and as well via diplomatic channels.

We intend to remain engaged with China on issue of transborder rivers to safeguard our interests," MEA spokesperson further stated.