Complete planning and environmental influence assessments for the venture must be accomplished as quickly as doable, Che Dalha, chairman of the Tibetan Autonomous Area, stated in a delegation briefing issued by China’s parliament.
Tibet ought to “try to launch development inside this 12 months,” he stated.
China’s plans for a large hydropower venture on the river, recognized in Tibet because the Yarlung Tsangbo, have stirred fears in India it might disrupt downstream river flows, worsen water shortages and even trigger flash floods.
The river flows for about 2,900 km (1,800 miles) by Tibet, India and Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal.
The “Yarlung Tsangbo downstream hydropower base” was listed in China’s new five-year plan final week as one of many nation’s main vitality improvement initiatives for the 2021-2025 interval.
China might construct as much as 60 gigawatts (GW) of era capability on the river, state media have reported, which might make it the world’s largest hydropower venture, overtaking China’s 22.5 GW Three Gorges Dam.
A Chinese language diplomat stated late final 12 months the venture was at a “preliminary planning and demonstration” stage.
India is contemplating plans to construct its personal dam on the river to extend its water storage capability and counteract the influence of the Chinese language venture, an official stated final 12 months.
In keeping with Tibet’s five-year plan proposals printed in January, the area goals to “analysis and promote” the venture and start associated engineering work as quickly as doable.