♤ India and China Share major River Systems such as the Indus and the Brahmaputra. The two countries do not have any treaty arrangements on the river for water sharing. Under existing bilateral MoU, China provides to India hydrological information of Brahmaputra River (Yarlong Zangbo) and Sutlej River (Langqen Zangbo) during the flood seasons.

♤ Brahmaputra, originates in Tibet, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo there, and flows down to India and further enters Bangladesh where it joins the Ganges and empties into the Bay of Bengal. About 18 percent of Brahmaputra’s water is contributed by glacial melt in Tibet. Most of its water is contributed by rainfall in the Indian territory

♤ India, China and Bangladesh don't have a joint treaty for the management of Brahmaputra.

♤ India and China, in 2006, set up an expert level mechanism to discuss interaction and cooperation on sharing flood season hydrological data, emergency management, and other issues regarding trans-border rivers.

♤ Hydrological data of the river is shared by China, under a MoU signed in October 2013, during monsoon season between 15 May and 15 October. The data is mainly of the water level of the river to alert downstream countries in case of floods.

♤ Delhi has also asked for data for non-monsoonal flows of the river, because there are suspicions in India that China could divert the waters of the Brahmaputra to its parched regions during dry seasons.

♤ In 2017 monsoon season India did not receive hydrological data - for the Brahmaputra river from upstream China, despite the agreement.

♤ Beijing has constructed several hydropower dams on the river, which is known as Yarlung ZangboTsangpo) in Tibet. The Zangmu dam was operationalised in 2015.

♤ China says the dams do not store or divert water and they will not be against the interest of downstream countries. But in recent years, particularly in northeastern India, fears are also growing that China could suddenly release a huge amount of water.

♤ The issue of the pollution of the Siang river which has contaminated the flow of the Brahmaputra in Assam. Though India has raised the issue during December 2017 discussion with visiting foreign minister Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson has dismissed the report.

♤ Experts argue that in view of China’s dam building- which causes concerns of diversion of river water, lack of non-monsoonal data and interruption in data sharing, India should push for a comprehensive river water treaty for Brahmaputra. However, the impending border dispute is a hurdle fro any such dispute.

♤ Pending such comprehensive treaty India must use available technological resources, satellite imagery etc. to monitor the river flow.