<span style="color: #222222;">China on Thursday tried to downplay its plan to build a large dam near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet, saying there is "no need for any anxiety over the project". Chinese foreign ministry said that Beijing will continue to have "good communication" with lower riparian states – India and Bangladesh on sharing hydrological information, flood prevention and disaster reduction and contingency management." However, it avoided saying anything on when China will discuss the matter of building the proposed dam near LAC in Tibet with the lower riparian countries.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"><br />''Experts say that it is a significant development from India's viewpoint as the dam will reportedly be built near LAC around a so-called "great bend", where the Brahmaputra curves southward before entering India and where the river gains substantial volume of water. Checking the flow of water or a diversion could be used to trigger flash floods or create water scarcity in lower riparian states along with environmental impact. The 3800 km long river, also known as the Yarlung Zangbo (Tsangpo) in China, flows from Tibet into India's Arunachal Pradesh state down through Assam to Bangladesh and has many tributaries and distributaries.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''Another major reservation for downstream countries like India and Bangladesh is lack of transparency in sharing all hydrological data despite MoUs (post the Doklam standoff). At least 11 hydroelectric projects along the Brahmaputra river have been built or planned by China in the past decade. When its first, Zangmu Dam, began operating in 2014, concerns over a lack of data sharing on dam construction came up. During the Doklam standoff, China stopped hydrological data sharing of Brahmaputra with India.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson tried to assuage the apprehensions, saying that when it comes to use and development of cross-border rivers, China always acts responsibly.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, the Indian government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas. </span><span style="color: black;">As per Ministry of External Affairs, the Chinese side has conveyed to India on several occasions that they are only undertaking run-of-the-river hydropower projects which do not involve diversion of the waters of the Brahmaputra.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"><br />''Various issues relating to trans-border rivers are discussed between India and China under the ambit of an institutionalized Expert Level Mechanism which was established in 2006, as well as through diplomatic channels. </span><span style="color: #222222;">Under existing bilateral Memorandums of Understanding, China provides hydrological information of Brahmaputra River and Sutlej River to India during the flood seasons. Under the arrangement, China provides flood season data of the Brahmaputra river between May 15 and October 15 every year.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"><br />''On Monday, Chinese state media reported the </span><span style="color: #222222;">China's plan to build the dam over Yarlung Zangbo River, reportedly at Medog in Tibet</span><span style="color: black;"> which may be of up to 60 GW of hydropower capacity, citing a senior official. </span><span style="color: #222222;">This report triggered concerns over the impact on the ecosystem and river flow downstream in India and Bangladesh. </span><span style="color: black;">India and China are engaged in a prolonged border standoff with eight rounds of senior commander level talks and diplomatic talks not yielding any result.</span>