Overview

• The government told the Rajya Sabha it has taken note of reports that China has begun building a mega dam on the lower Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised the issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his August 18 visit to India.
• The Brahmaputra hydrology MoU expired on June 5, 2023, and the Sutlej MoU expired on November 5, 2020, with Brahmaputra data suspended since June 2023 and Sutlej data not received since 2022.
• India reiterated its call for transparency and consultation through the Expert Level Mechanism set up in 2006 and through diplomatic channels.
• New Delhi said it is closely monitoring the river system and noted proposed projects on the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, including the Upper Siang Multipurpose Project and the Siang Lower HE Project, to safeguard downstream communities in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.