India Raises Dam Plan With China

Urges China to ensure interests of downstream states

- SHUBHAJIT ROY

DAYS AFTER BEIJING cleared the construction of the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet close to the Indian border, raising concerns in lower riparian states India and Bangladesh, Delhi said Friday it has conveyed its concerns to the Chinese side over the mega hydel project.

India has urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are "not harmed by activities in upstream areas".

Delhi has also lodged a protest with Beijing through diplomatic channels over China's establishment of two new counties in its Hotan Prefecture since parts of jurisdiction of these counties fall in the Union Territory of Ladakh, in the Aksai Chin area.

Sources said that India was not informed by the Chinese side about the construction of the Brahmaputra dam project, which is the convention between the two countries, and learnt of it from media reports – the project is to cost an estimated $137 billion.