China on Tuesday said it will maintain communication with India over the trans-boundary rivers in the wake of lakes and dams being formed on the Yarlung Tsangpo due to earthquakes in Tibet and which pose a danger to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Massive landslides caused by a series of earthquakes in Tibet region have darkened the waters of the Brahmaputra river (Siang in Arunachal Pradesh) which originates as the Yarlung Tsangpo in China.
According to reports, a huge amount of debris has accumulated and blocked three locations, forming natural dams on the river across a 12-km stretch in China.
India worries that these three landslide-induced dams and lakes may give way, leading to a huge deluge downstream.
“According to verification by the relevant authorities, I can tell you that this lake is to the east section of the China-India boundary. It is caused by natural factors, it is not man-made,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
“I noticed that Indian professional authorities have made an analysis and clarification on this. We hope the Indian media will not make a groundless speculation on this and the Chinese side will, through the existing channels, maintain communication with the Indian side on the cross-border rivers.” Hua said.
India and China have an understanding on exchange of data, but this year New Delhi said that Beijing has not done so.
