China creates tension for India as it has blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet as part of the construction of its “most expensive” hydro project.

The state-run news agency of China, Xinhua has reported that China “on Friday blocked a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo (the Tibetan name for Brahmaputra) River as part of its most expensive hydro project.” The hydel power project is cause of concern for India as the dam may impact the flow of water into the lower riparian countries including Bangladesh.

But China has been maintaining that it has taken into consideration India’s concerns and allays apprehensions of restricting the flow of water, saying its dams are not designed to hold water.

“The Lalho project on the Xiabuqu River in Xigaze (which is very close to Sikkim), involves an investment of 4.95 billion yuan (740 million U.S. dollars),” Xinhua reported.

Xigaze is also known as Shigatse and it is from this location Brahmaputra flows into Arunachal Pradesh.

The hydel project was launched in June, 2014 and scheduled to be completed in 2019. Its reservoir was designed to store up to 295 million cubic meters of water, the agency reported.

There is no water treaty between India and China but the two countries have devised an Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) on trans-border rivers. The two governments signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation on trans-border rivers under which Beijing provides data to India on the water flows.

The blockade of the Brahmaputra river tributary comes at a time when India’s reported decision to suspend talks with Pakistan under Indus Water Treaty as part of its efforts to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack.