Construction of Dams by China on the Brahmaputra:
The construction on the Chinese side of several dams on the Brahmaputra River (known as Yalong in China) has become a matter of recurrent concern in India. As the population and economy of India and China continue to rise in the face of rising consumer demand, both countries face water shortages and are vying to build new projects to address these challenges.
Brahmaputra:
♦ It originated with the name Siang or Dihang, and originated in the Kailash Mountains near Mansarovar Lake, from the Chemayungdung glacier. In Arunachal Pradesh, it enters India west of Sadiya town.
♦ Tributaries: Dibang, Lohit, Siang, BurhiDihing, Tista and Dhansari.
♦ Due to its geographical location and primary climatic conditions, this is a perennial river with some special characteristics. Twice a year it is inundated. The melting of snow in the Himalayas in summer triggered one flood and the other was caused by monsoon flows.
♦ Flooding has risen in frequency and is devastating due to climate change and its effects on elevated and low flows.
China:
China is home to almost 20% of the world`s population and owns just 7% of the world`s water supplies, which are also subject to extreme contamination caused by rapid industrialization. China`s southern regions are rich in water supplies, compared with the water-stressed areas in the south. China aims to link the major rivers in these areas through canals, aqueducts and other connectivity projects to ensure water safety in order to solve this issue.
For this cause, the Mekong and its tributaries and other rivers have been blocked by China, affecting countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in Southeast Asia. China sees these ventures as a continuation of its historic tax structure as an upper-class nation in Asia. Smaller countries cannot resist or even play an important role in negotiations effectively.
India:
India accounts for 17% of the world`s population and 4% of its water. The water pressure is intense. Many metropolitan areas face shortages of water in summer. Much of the population of India lives on the Ganges Plain, where water is available all year round, but summers are harsh and dry in the southern and western regions, and rainfall is scarce and erratic on the eastern coast. An ambitious North-South river link project has also been proposed by India. It was however, criticised for the possible disturbance of fragile ecosystems.
SITMEX-20 been Concluded in the Andaman Sea:
In the trilateral naval exercise of India, Thailand and Singapore, the second edition of SITMEX-20 ended in the Andaman Sea. SITMEX is a tripartite maritime exercise carried out between the Indian, Singaporean and Thai navies. India hosted its first exercise since 2019.
Highlights:
♦The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is hosting the 2020 exercise. The SITMEX series of exercises, in addition to improving interoperability between friendly navies, also aims to reinforce mutual confidence and to establish shared understanding and procedures to improve overall maritime security in the region.
♦In the keynote speech of the Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018, the Prime Minister of India declared that a trilateral naval exercise had been conducted between India, Singapore and Thailand.
♦The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia`s premier defence summit. It was launched in 2002.
♦The first Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX) hosted by the Indian Navy was conducted near Port Blair in September 2019. SITMEX is conducted once a year.
♦The SITMEX series of exercises aims to enhance the interoperability between the Indian Navy, Singapore Navy (RSN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and absorb best practices.
♦It also aims to reinforce mutual confidence and establish shared understandings and procedures in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance overall maritime security. This move is in line with the SAGAR vision of India (Safety and Development for All in the Region).
♦RSN (Singapore) is hosting the 2020 edition of this exercise. For this exercise, the Indian Navy deployed the INS Kamota indigenous anti-submarine warfare frigate and the INS Kamuk guided-missile frigate.
###Indian Navy Refits Maldivian Ship CGS Huravee:
Visakhapatnam Naval Shipyard completed the modification of the Maldives Coast Guard MNDF CGS Huravee.
Highlights:
♦ On February 22, the ship arrived in Visakhapatnam to be updated. While it has been restricted since March 20 due to the COVID19 pandemic, the activities of the Navy Shipyard have been carefully designed and conducted, and adequate. For major refurbishment/replacement of main thrusters/auxiliary equipment, protection makes it possible.
♦ An significant assurance for the reliability and capability of ships is given by the update of the ship`s power generation equipment. Moreover in order to ensure that ships serving the Maldives Coast Guard have improved efficiency and sustainability in the coming operating period, many sets of systems and equipment have been successfully overhauled.
♦ To accomplish full operational readiness, the ship has undergone comprehensive port and sea trials. In 2006, India submitted Huravee to the Maldives in order to improve the relationship between the two countries and further cooperation in the Indian Ocean region to ensure maritime stability.
♦ It was originally owned by INS Tillanchang, a locally built Trinkat-class patrol ship. The Ship was constructed in 2001 at Garden Reach Shipyard and Engineer`s Office in Kolkata.
♦ MNDF CGS Huravee (formerly INS Tillanchang) is a Trinkat-class patrol vessel locally manufactured at the Garden Reach shipyard and engineers in Kolkata, installed in 2001.
♦ The Indian government subsequently donated it to the Maldives in 2006 to improve the relationship between the two countries. And more cooperation in the Indian Ocean area to ensure maritime safety.
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