The Yellow River

Generally the Yellow River or Huang He is known as the mother river by all the Chinese people. It is main river of Republic of China. The 5,464-kilometer (about 3,395 miles) long Yellow River is the second-longest river in Asia after the Yangtzeand the sixth-longest in the world. Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai province of western China, it flows through nine provinces and empties into the Bohai Sea near the city of Dongying in Shandong province. The Yellow River basin has an east–west extent of 1,900 kilometers (1,180 mi) and a north–south extent of 1,100 km (680 mi). Its total basin area is 742,443 square kilometers (286,659 sq mi). It runs through nine provinces and autonomous regions on its way to the Bohai Sea.

The Yellow River is believed to be the source of everything for China. The Yellow River is also called "the cradle of Chinese civilization" the spiritual home of the Chinese people.. The Yellow River basin—specifically, the Wei River Valley that cuts across the south of the long Ordos Loop—was the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilizations. It was the most prosperous region in early Chinese history. It is the waters of the river and its spirit that nurture the whole Chinese nation. For thousands of years, this river has been admiring by literary giants, artists, as well as by the common people. But for frequent devastating floods, largely due to the elevated river bed in its lower course, has also earned it the unenviable name "China's Sorrow". Rich cultural relics, history and gorgeous natural sceneries make the Yellow River a fine place to visit. Along the river, there are dozens of worthwhile attractions. They are stretching arms and waiting for your visiting! In Tibet the Yellow River is known as "River of the Peacock.

BIG DAMS: YARLUNG TSANGPO-BRAHMAPUTRA

The Yarlung Tsangpo River also known as Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River is one of the major international river. This Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River is shared between Tibet/China, India and Bangladesh. In Indi this river is known as River Brahmaputra and in Bangladesh it is known as River Jamuna. The Yarlung Tsangpo originates at a place 30o31’N latitude and 80o80’E longitude, near the upper waters of the Indus and Sutlej and a little to the east of the Mansarovar Lake in Tibet between the Kailash range and the Himalayan range lying at an altitude of 5150m. On the Tibetan Plateau, the river flows west to east, across Southern Tibet, from its sources near the sacred Mt. Kailash all the way to the Great Bend. Here at the great bend the River Tsangpo-Brahmaputra turns north to take a sharp U-turn to flow south into India and then to Bangladesh. This major international river is connected to the larger Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin.

The Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra.

 Just before few years, this major Yarlung Tsangpo or Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River was considered as an undammed river. People’s Republic of China (PRC) China has officially announced plans to build a number of dams on the middle section of the river i.e., the upper reach of River Brahmaputra of India and River Jamuna of Bangladesh. As we all know that China has a great demand for energy to fulfill their peoples need. So, to fulfill their needs China decided to make Dams on the upper reach of River Brahmaputra of India and River Jamuna of Bangladesh. From all these dams China will generate huge amount of electricity and they will divert almost all the waters from the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River to the middle of China where there is a crisis of water. We don’t have any question mark on our face that after completion of these big Dams of hydroelectric power plant project there will be displacement of local populations, destruction of ecosystems, and an impact for downstream people in India and Bangladesh. It will totally change the ecology of India (particularly Assam) and the Bangladesh within few years.

The construction Big Dam of hydroelectric power plant project by China includes the Zangmu project (currently under construction) and this has caused much concern in India. The absence in these debates of the voices of Tibetans who live in the valley and are traditional users of its waters in these debates is deplorable, especially given their historical, religious and economic connections to the river.

To save the ecological, economical status of India (Specially Assam) and Bangladesh, we all should try to stop China to construct the Big Dam on Yarlung Tsangpo or Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River. Actually it is too late for all of us protest against the Big Dam. But still we can stop the China from their aim to destroy the ecosystem and many more. 

A list of already completed and operational Hydropower projects on the Yarlung Tsangpo upper reaches Brahmaputra are given below:

Name                          Size (MW)

Bayi                             3.1

Jaingzi                          1.0

Manla                           20

Najin                            7.5

Nimaxian                      1.26

Pulan                            N/A

Qiangwang                   3.2

Shequanhe                    6.4

Woka                           20

Xueka                          40

Yanghu                        90

Zanda                           N/A

Zhikong                        100