DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

10 March, 2021
2 Min Read

Dams on Brahmaputra River Cleared in China's 5-Year Plan

A draft of 14th China’s new Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) has permitted the first dams to be built on the lower basin of the Yarlung Zangbo river (Brahmaputra’s name in Tibet) before it flows into India.
It calls for building a hydropower base on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river and clean energy bases in the Jinsha River.
Jinsha River is the upper course of the Yangtze river in western China.
The project is also listed along with the Sichuan-Tibet railway and the national water network.

Brahmaputra River System

Region	Name
Tibet	Tsangpo (meaning ‘The Purifier’)
China	Yarlung Zangbo Jiangin
Assam Valley	Dihang or Siong, South of Sadiya: Brahmaputra
Bangladesh	Jamuna River
	Padma River: Combined Waters of Ganga and Brahmaputra
	Meghana: From the confluence of Padma and Meghna

The Brahmaputra (meaning the son of Brahma).
It is 2,900 km in length.
Source: Chemayungdung glacier (Kailas Range) at an elevation of about 5,150 m. Its source is very close to the sources of Indus and Satluj.
Mariam La separates the source of the Brahmaputra from the Manasarovar Lake.
In spite of the exceptionally high altitude, the Tsangpo has a gentle slope.
It receives a large number of tributaries in Tibet. The first major tributary is the Raga Tsangpo meeting the Tsangpo near Lhatse Dzong.
Towards the end of its journey in Tibet, its course abruptly takes a southward turn around Namcha Barwa (7,756 m)(Syntaxial Bend).
Here it cuts across the eastern Himalayas through the Dihang or Siang Gorge and emerges from the mountains near Sadiya in the Assam Valley.
In the north-eastern parts of Assam Valley, it is joined by two important tributaries viz, the Dibang (or Sikang) from the north and Lohit from the south.
From Sadiya (Assam Valley) onwards, this mighty river is known as the Brahmaputra.
The main streams merging with the Brahmaputra from the north are, Subansiri, Kameng, Dhansiri (north), Raidak, Tista etc..
The Tista was a tributary of the Ganga prior to the floods of 1787 after which it diverted its course eastwards to join the Brahmaputra.
The river forms many islands, the most important of which is MAJULI.
With rainfall concentrated during the monsoon months, only the river has to carry enormous quantities of water and silt which results in disastrous floods. The Brahmaputra is thus truly a River of Sorrow.
The river is navigable up to Dibrugarh from its mouth and serves as an excellent inland water transport route.
The Brahmaputra bends southwards and enters Bangladesh near Dhubri.

Source: TH

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Dams on Brahmaputra River Cleared in China's 5-Year Plan

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