<br/>India said it is opposed to construction of a dam by China on Brahmaputra river and also verifying whether such a<br/><br/>project is being pursued despite denials.<br/><br/> In the wake of a media report that China has begun constructing a dam on the river, External Affairs Ministry<br/><br/>said India has conveyed, during meetings over last three years, that such a project may have significant impact on the socio-economic condition of people living downstream. Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said the Indian side has also expressed the hope that the Chinese side will not undertake such a large-scale project or divert the waters of the Brahmaputra.<br/><br/> He said, the government is looking into the said newspaper report to ascertain whether there are recent developments that suggest any change in the position conveyed to India by China. Reports about China's plans to build the 116-metre tall and 389.5-metre long dam had emerged three years back after which the two countries set up an Expert-Level Mechanism which held three meetings over the last three years.<br/><br/> The dam is part of a 540 MW power project and India fears that the construction on Brahmaputra River could lead to submergence and other problems downstream in Assam and other areas.<br/><br/> The MEA statement comes after it issued a strong statement, objecting to China's participation in construction of a highway and a power project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and asking to stop such activities.