Lok Sabha Question No. 2809 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-04
Subject: Contamination of Siang River
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: NINONG ERING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 2809

ANSWERED ON 04.01 .201 8

## CONTAMINATION OF SIA NG RIVER

## 2809. SHRI NINONG ERING

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether any construction activities are being or have been undertaken on river Brahma China and if so, the details thereof along with it s impact on the water of said river;

(b) whether the water quality of this river is or has been contaminated and if so, the detail

(c) the steps the Government has taken to bring the river back to its natural condition; and

(d) whether the Government is planning to compensate the State and local fishermen, farmers an department for the loss, if any and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES, RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND  GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a)As per the information provided by MEA, according to reports, Zangmu hydroelectric proje operationalized by China on Brahmaputra River in October 2015. Reports indicate that it is a - of the - river project. According to reports, China is also undertaking construction of other dams The Chinese  side  has  conveyed  to  us  on  several  occasions  that  they  are  only  undertaking  r - of - the - river hydropower projects which do not involve diversion of the waters of the Brahmaputra.

(b) The water samples collected and tested by CWC during the month of November, 2017 and De 2017 at TUTING and Passighat Hydrological observation sites S ang River have been found to be high turbid in nature. In addition, results of water quality tests conducted by Public Health Eng Supply Dept., Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh from samples of Pasighat shows turbidity and Iron li excess of permissible limits. Beside this Physico - chemical  analysis  of  water  samples  collected  from  Siang across Pasighat and Jonai conducted by North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land (NERIWALM) shows higher concentration of A luminium and lron beyond acceptable and permissible for  drinking  water.  The  reason  for  change  in  water  of  river  Siang  may  possibly  be  becaus slide/earthquake/any  other  activity  in  upstream  region  of  Tuting  site  across  the  internat order  with China

(c ) During the recent visit of Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of    China to India on 11 December 2017, matters concerning trans - border rivers, including the recent reports about unusual changes i of  Siang  River,  w ere  raised  with  the  Chinese  side.  Government  has  seen  media  reports  drawin linkage  between  the  recent  deterioration  in  the  quality  of  Siang/Brahmaputra  River  and  th construction  activities  on  the  River  in  China.  In  this  regard,  Go vernment  has  noted  Chinese  Foreign Ministry's statements denying any such link and stating that the situation was caused by an earthquake in the region and was not a man - made incident. As a lower riparian State with considerable established u the waters of the trans - border rivers, Government has consistently conveyed its views and concer Chinese  authorities,  including  at  the  highest  levels,  and  has  urged  them  to  ensure  that downstream States are not harmed by any activ ities in upstream areas.

(d )No such loss has been reported to the Ministry.