📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Divyansh0514
International
Arunachal CM Pema Khandu says state can manage its own water, not China's upstream dams
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 04:01 AM
👁 10
Chief Minister Pema Khandu asserted that Arunachal Pradesh can control water flow within its territory, while dams built by China upstream remain beyond its jurisdiction.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh retains full authority over water resources on its side of the border. He emphasized that any dams constructed upstream in China are outside the state's control and cannot be managed by Arunachal authorities.
Khandu's statement underscores the geopolitical sensitivity surrounding trans‑border rivers that originate in Tibet and flow into the northeastern state. While the state can regulate water usage, diversion, and infrastructure within its jurisdiction, the upstream projects remain a matter of international diplomacy.
The remarks come amid growing concerns in the region about the environmental and strategic implications of Chinese dam construction. Arunachal officials have repeatedly called for dialogue with Beijing to address potential downstream impacts, but Khandu stressed that the state's immediate responsibility is limited to its own territory.
Khandu's statement underscores the geopolitical sensitivity surrounding trans‑border rivers that originate in Tibet and flow into the northeastern state. While the state can regulate water usage, diversion, and infrastructure within its jurisdiction, the upstream projects remain a matter of international diplomacy.
The remarks come amid growing concerns in the region about the environmental and strategic implications of Chinese dam construction. Arunachal officials have repeatedly called for dialogue with Beijing to address potential downstream impacts, but Khandu stressed that the state's immediate responsibility is limited to its own territory.