China opposes Brahmaputra hydropower projects

China has ruled out any plan to divert the Brahmaputra river's waters to tackle water shortages.

Jiao Yong, Vice Minister of Water Resources, said that China had no plans to divert the Brahmaputra considering "technical difficulties, environmental impacts and state relations."

Mr. Jiao noted that every year 166.1 billion cubic meters of water from the Brahmaputra flows outside China's borders.

The Water Resources Ministry has, however, voiced opposition both to diversion plans and proposed hydropower projects to tap the river's ecologically sensitive upper reaches.

Hydropower industry groups have renewed calls on the government to lift a suspension on dam projects on the river's fast-flowing upper and middle reaches to address a power crisis.

The full story is available at The Hindu.