China gives green light for first downstream dams on Brahmaputra
- Category
Geography
- Published
15th Mar, 2021
-
China has adopted 14th Five Year Plan which mentions a hydropower project on Brahmaputra River near Arunachal Pradesh
Context
China has adopted 14th Five Year Plan which mentions a hydropower project on Brahmaputra River near Arunachal Pradesh
About
What does the Five Year Plan signifies?
- The plan was drafted against tensions between India-China and China-USA during COVID-19 pandemic
- The 2021-2025 plan is anticipated to have aggressive goals on sustainable energy in order to reach China's announced goals of carbon neutrality by no later than 2060
- Hence a hydroelectric project is envisaged on Brahmaputra River, which will offer clean energy to China
About the proposed dam and its location
- The plan was first revealed last year by Power Construction Corp of China or POWERCHINA
- Run of the river hydropower project in the downstream of the Yarlung Tsangpo River (the Tibetan name for Brahmaputra)
- The 50km section at the Great Bend alone offered the potential of 70 million kWh which equals more than three Three Gorges power stations
Brahmaputra River System
- Origin: Jima Yangzong Glacier in Tibet near Mansarovar Lake
- Course of the River:
- It flows parallel to Himalayan Range in Tibet and after the Great Bend enters India at Arunachal Pradesh
- It is fed by many tributaries and continues to flow towards Assam and then Bangladesh
- In Bangladesh, River Ganga meets Brahmaputra River(Jamuna) which is then called Padma River and it drains in to Bay of Bengal at Sunderbans
- Tributaries:
- Left Bank: Lhasa River, Nyang River, Parlung Zangbo, Lohit River, Dhansiri River, Kolong River
- Right Bank: Kameng River, Manas River, Raidak River, Jaldhaka River, Teesta River, Subansiri River, Siang
- National Waterways 2
- It is a section of the Brahmaputra River having a length of 891 km between the Bangladesh border near Dhubri and Sadiya in Assam.
- Ecological Significance
- The basin provides a unique habitat for exquisite variety of flora and fauna, including many endangered species like one-horned rhinoceros, pygmy hog, hispid hare, Asiatic elephant, clouded leopard, marble cat, golden cat, binturong, hoolock gibbon and the Wood Duck.
- The flood plains of the Brahmaputra are dotted with a large number of wetlands or beels, which provide unique habitats for a variety of flora and fauna. The beels also function as floodwater retention systems.
- Wildlife Hotspot on bank of Brahmaputra
- Dibru Saikowa National Park
- Kaziranga National Park
- Orang National Park
- Majuli Island
- It is the world's largest river island located in Brahmaputra River
- It is also called the cultural capital of Assam.
- The Great Bend
- Brahmaputra flows in a deep canyon or gorge between two Himalayan peaks ‘Namcha Barwa’ and ‘Gyala Peri’ in Tibet. Then the river turns to south and rushes towards Arunachal Pradesh.
- This region, where the river takes such a big turn of almost 270 degrees, is known as ‘The Great Bend’ of the Brahmaputra.