Friday, October 23, 2009

Yarlung Tsangpo Dam and Brahmaputra diversion

One of the major criticisms of the Three Gorges Dam is the sedimentation from the upstream. Geologists have predicted that sedimentation would have significant impact on not only the sluice gates but also the overall structural integrity. So China found a neat little solution for the sedimentation problem
Three Gorges Dam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In order to maximize the utility of the Three Gorges Dam and cut down on sedimentation from the Jinsha, or the upstream of the Yangtze River before reaching Yibin, China plans to build a series of dams at the downstream of Jinsha, including Wudongde Dam, Baihetan Dam, Xiluodu Dam, and Xiangjiaba Dam. The total capacity of those four dams is 38,500 MW, almost double the capacity of the Three Gorges.
and also realised double the capacity through the four new dams.

If, say, China were to do the Three Gorges project again -- or the Yarlung Trangpo dam -- it would start with building dams upstream and then embark on the ambitious project in the final phase. We know that construction on Zangmu site has started at about the same time the Brahmaputra diversion project was supposed to.

View Proposed hydropower dams on Yarlung Tsangpo (upper Bramahputra) River in a larger map


China has always shown scant regard for the environment. Even in the case of Three Gorges dam, the weight of water from the dam reservoir is estimated to be so heavy that it will slightly tilt the Earth's rotational axis. But it did not deter China from going ahead with the project. Brahmaputra diversion could be a human catastrophe but that in itself is not enough to deter imperialistic China.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There is an interesting report in today's Chindu:

Amartya Sen for better health care-

According to the great economist from Bengal, elementary health care services have been found wanting in "backward" States like Chattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

It is interesting to note that W.Bengal has been left out of the category of "backward" States.

In the reception area of a prominent corporate hospital in Chennai, one can find a separate "Bengali speaking" counter! Most of the nearby shops, pharmacies, guest-houses etc. announce "Bengali speaking" facility.

It would be interesting to know if Prof. Sen has conducted any study on the delivery of health care- elementary or advanced, in W.Bengal and the quality of the same.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/24/stories/2009102457712000.htm

The online version is very short whereas the print (Chennai) edition carries the details.