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Flood alarm in Siang again

By Prafulla Kaman

PASIGHAT, Oct 30 - Following another report of landslide block of Yarlung Tsangpo in China, the main water stream of Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh and the Brahmaputra in Assam, the Upper Siang district administration of Arunachal has issued an advisory to local people alerting them to refrain from going to the river banks.

Upper Siang Deputy Commissioner D Kamdak in a circular issued on Tuesday stated that due to the massive landslide at Yarlung Tsangpo in China on October 29, there is a possibility of flash flood in Siang river.

There has also been a report of unprecedented decrease in volume of Siang water at Tuting near the Indo-China border since last night. The district administration has alerted the people to take precautionary measure to avoid any eventuality.

This is the third time that flood alert in Siang river has been sounded due to landslide-induced blockage of Tsangpo in China.

However, the people of Arunachal Pradesh, including East Arunachal MP Ninong Ering and members of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), suspect Chinese hand behind the water block. They are also moving the Central government for a well-defined �water treaty� between India and China to chalk out a rigid water policy in order to protect water resources of Siang river.

Unusual phenomena such as change of water quality in Siang river and constant flood fury since last one and half year have been creating panic among the people living on both the banks of the river.

Meanwhile, the water level in Siang at Pasighat and downstream portions remained unchanged for the last couple of days. The water resources department has not observed any remarkable change in the water level at Pasighat and downstream Assam till this evening.

Staff Correspondent adds from Dibrugarh: According to the Arunachal Pradesh government sources, the information regarding the landslide blockage of Yarlung Tsangpo river was communicated to India by the government of China, following which a red alert was sounded across the Siang valley.

However, as per a report, the quantity of water discharged by Yarlung Tsangpo is less than what was discharged recently from October 17 to 20. The quantum of water may not cause any damage or loss of lives and properties along Siang river downstream.

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