Brahmaputra river dries up in Arunachal
01 Mar 2012
The Brahmaputra river, which originates from Tibet, abruptly dried up in Pasighat town in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, a state government spokesman said today.
Water level in the river receded so much in Pasighat town in the evening that it almost dried up, Tako Dabi political advisor to chief minister Nabam Tuki, said.
Coming as it is amidst reports of China building a dam over the river, Dabi expressed apprehension that it could be either a diversion of the course of the river or an artificial blockade.
The Brahmaputra is known as Yarlong Tsangpo in Tibet, where it originates and is known as Siang as it flows into Arunachal and later forms the Brahmaputra as it flows into Assam and as Megna in Bangladesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal.
Water level in the Siang had, on 9 June 2000, suddenly risen by 30 metres and inundated almost the entire township causing widespread destruction to property besides claiming seven lives following the collapse of a hydropower dam in Tibet, according to Dabi.
He demanded that the Central Water Commission immediately conduct a study to find the crux of the problem.
