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Politics
Pema Khandu: Arunachal can manage its side, not China's upstream dams
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 11:38 AM
👁 2
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu stated that the state can only manage infrastructure on its side of the border and has no control over upstream dams built by China.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has clarified the state's position regarding cross-border water infrastructure. Addressing concerns about upstream projects, he emphasized that while Arunachal Pradesh is responsible for maintaining and managing infrastructure within its own territory, it does not have jurisdiction over dams constructed by China on the other side of the border.
The Chief Minister noted that the state's capabilities are limited to its own side of the Line of Actual Control. He explained that controlling or influencing the operation of upstream dams in China is beyond the administrative and legal authority of the Indian state. This distinction highlights the complexities of managing shared river systems that flow from one sovereign nation to another.
Khandu's remarks underscore the challenges faced by downstream states in India when dealing with water resource management in transboundary rivers. The statement serves as a factual assessment of the state's operational limits, distinguishing between domestic infrastructure management and international diplomatic issues concerning water rights and flow regulation.
The Chief Minister noted that the state's capabilities are limited to its own side of the Line of Actual Control. He explained that controlling or influencing the operation of upstream dams in China is beyond the administrative and legal authority of the Indian state. This distinction highlights the complexities of managing shared river systems that flow from one sovereign nation to another.
Khandu's remarks underscore the challenges faced by downstream states in India when dealing with water resource management in transboundary rivers. The statement serves as a factual assessment of the state's operational limits, distinguishing between domestic infrastructure management and international diplomatic issues concerning water rights and flow regulation.