Get info on possible impacts on Bangladesh
Two lawmakers yesterday expressed serious concern in parliament over China operating a dam across the Brahmaputra River for hydropower and urged immediate measures by the government to avoid its negative impacts on Bangladesh's environment.
Mayeenuddin Khan Badal of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, a partner in the ruling coalition, and Abul Kamal Azad, chief of Bangladesh Nationalist Front, demanded that the water resources minister come up with an in-depth and clear statement in parliament on the issue.
“We don't know how much it concerns the government... Experts say the dam would have serious ecological impacts on Bangladesh as the Brahmaputra is our biggest source of water,” Badal said on a point of order.
“All our rivers and distributaries of the Brahmaputra will die if China does not stop damming this river,” he said, adding that India had already expressed its concern.
The Brahmaputra is one of the world's largest river systems, and its 3,000km channel flows through China, India and Bangladesh after originating in the Tibetan plateau.
“We want to know about the government's stance on this issue and what research it has done on the dam's impacts,” Badal said. Azad supported Badal.
The first unit of the $1.6 billion Zangmu Hydropower Station, which has a capacity of producing 5,10,000MW, started operation Sunday, said China's official news agency Xinhua.
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