Chinese control of Tibet rivers will be disastrous: Dr Sangay

August 4, 2014;

R Dutta Choudhury

[Assam Tribune]

DHARAMSHALA, Aug 3 – Chinese control of the major rivers originating in Tibet may prove to be disastrous for the South East Asian countries, including India, warned the Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile, Dr Lobsang Sangay.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, Dr Sangay pointed out that most of the rivers passing through the South East Asian countries including the Brahmaputra, originate in Tibet and with every possibility of China diverting water to meet the requirements of the people of that country, the entire SE Asia may face acute water shortage in the days to come.

Dr Sangay pointed out that according to experts dealing with international affairs, in the days to come, wars would be fought not over land but over water as most rivers, which are major sources of water in the South East Asian countries, originate in Tibet. The Chinese control over it would create problems for different countries.

The Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile said that China is facing an acute water shortage as the country has 20 per cent of the world’s population. According to an estimate, around 400 million people of that country do not have access to fresh water. To meet the growing demand for water, the Chinese authorities would be forced to divert water from the rivers originating in Tibet in the days to come. He also said that the Chinese are planning at least 20 dams on an average on each of the rivers originating in Tibet. The diversion of water of the major rivers, coupled with construction of the dams would result in drying up of the rivers passing through the SE Asian countries, he warned.

Dr Sangay further said that most of the rivers flowing down from Tibet originate in the glaciers and with the glaciers fast melting because of global warming, there is a need for taking effective steps to protect the water sources and the Chinese are not doing anything in this regard.

The Tibetan leader also said that the Tibet area has more than 130 types of different minerals and the Chinese are haphazardly exploring them in an unscientific manner and without caring to protect the environment. This is leading to poisoning of the water channels, including rivers passing through Tibet and the effect would be felt by the entire South East Asia. Moreover, cutting down of the forests in the area led to siltation of the rivers and floods in the downstream areas, he added.