India urges China to ensure dams don't harm its interests

India Thursday urged China to ensure its plans to construct upstream dams on Brahmaputra river do not harm interests of lower riparian states.

On a query about China's move to build three hydropower dams in the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said India carefully monitored all developments on the river and had conveyed its views and concerns to China.

"As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the river, India has conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels of the government of the People's Republic of China," the spokesperson said.

"India urges China to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas," the spokesperson added.

Brahmaputra originates in the Tibet Autonomous Region and flows into India.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony said earlier in the day that the government was yet to get details of China's plan to construct upstream dams on the Brahmaputra river and would take a considered view on the move.

"We will take a considered view about that," Antony told reporters at a function here.

A media report Wednesday said the Chinese State Council had approved the dams under an energy development plan for 2015.