All the mega projects of China in Tibet have a bearing on India’s strategic and security needs (‘Despatches’ page – “China bets on mega projects in Tibet”, November 26). Unlike the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, India has no such treaty with China on the sharing of waters flowing toward India and Bangladesh. China is likely to emerge as the ultimate controller of water for nearly 40% of the world’s population. Despite the Himalayas being known as the “water tower of Asia”, most of the high-altitude cities here struggle with water shortages in the dry season. Along with population pressures, climate change, glacier melt and shifting rain patterns are now new issues.
China’s penchant for massive engineering projects should not be overlooked. These are issues that Indian officials should discuss seriously with their Chinese counterparts to ensure that flows toward India are not jeopardised. The trust deficit between China and India will persist as long as there is no transparency in the government and industry. India needs to manage its own resources with or without the concern of China.
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bengaluru
