Not immediately worried: Himanta on China's Medog Dam construction

Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said he is ‘not immediately worried' from China constructing the world's largest dam, Medog Dam, on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.

He highlighted both the possibility of ecological risk and potential flood mitigation benefits, while leaving the final judgement to scientific assessment and the Centre.

China Premier Li Qiang, according to Chinese media, presided over a ground breaking ceremony on Saturday for the start of the construction of the dam, which is also known as the Motuo Hydropower Station, on the Yarlung Tsangpo just before it enters Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang and then becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam and the Jamuna in Bangladesh.

"I am not immediately worried because Brahmaputra is a mighty river and it is not dependent on a single source," Sarma said. He added that most of Brahmaputra's waters come from Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh and rainfall within Assam itself. He acknowledged two perspectives regarding the dam's potential impact — one view warns that if China disturbs the river's flow, there could be less water, affecting Assam's biodiversity.

"The counter view suggests that reduced flow may actually help cushion Assam from recurring devastating floods, as less water during the monsoon could moderate flood severity. So, I don't know which one is correct," he added.