Itanagar: March 1, 2012

The Siang ( Brahmaputra) river originating from Tibet was suddenly found to have almost dried up in Pasighat in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, a state government spokesman said on Wednesday night.

People of Pasighat town in East Siang district found the water level of the river receded so much on Wednesday that it almost dried, Tako Dabi said. Dabi, also the political adviser to CM Nabam Tuki, expressed apprehension that China could have diverted the water of the river, which is known as Yarlong Tsangpo in Tibet, or there could be some artificial blockade due to which this has happened.

On June 9, 2000, the water level of Siang rose suddenly by 30 metre and inundated almost the entire township causing widespread destruction to property besides claiming seven lives following the collapse of a hydropower dam in Tibet, said Dabi, who himself inspected the dried bed of the river. Dabi suggested that the Centre and its agencies should immediately conduct a study to find the problem.

Video footage from the scene shows the Siang — which is several kilometres (miles) wide at Pasighat, according to Dabi — reduced to flowing in several narrow channels in the large sandy riverbed.

The panic of the people can’t be brushed off, he said. Yarlung Tsangpo, the highest river in the world, is a water course that originates at Tamlung Tso Lake in western Tibet, southeast of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It later forms South Tibet Valley and Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, before entering India at Tuting in Arunachal.

Also Read the latest development regarding this issue:China denies, India clarifies: Brahmaputra is not drying up!

Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh is a part of the great Brahmaputra. Siang River enters India in the Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. The River is known to have its origin in China and offers one of the premium wilderness expeditions in the world.

Siang River valleys and tributaries are the home of the Adi people of Arunachal Pradesh. The Siang River offers ample opportunities for adventure sports like river rafting, angling, and trekking. A hanging bridge on the Siang River is an interesting sight to be seen. The bridge made of cane and bamboo is around 60 to 70m long, connecting the hill tribal settlements. The river Siang is known as Brahmaputra in Assam. The Brahmaputra is the confluence of Siang and Lohit rivers of Arunachal Pradesh.

PTI

 

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