Brahmaputra River
Context: The Brahmaputra River is predominantly sustained by India's monsoonal rains and local tributaries, with China's contribution being relatively minor.
Important Pointers:
Origin & Name: Originates from the Angsi Glacier near Mount Kailash in Tibet; known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam, and Jamuna in Bangladesh.
Course: Flows 2,880 km from Tibet through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India, then into Bangladesh, merging with the Ganga to form the Sundarbans delta
Major Tributaries:
Left Bank: Dibang, Lohit, Burhi Dihing, Dhansiri.
Right Bank: Subansiri, Manas, Teesta, Kameng.
Dams:
China: Zangmu Dam (Zangmu Hydropower Station) operational since 2015; Jiacha Hydropower Station operational since 2020.
India: Proposed projects include the Dibang Dam and Subansiri Lower Dam; the Ranganadi and Rangit Dams are operational.
Environmental Significance: The river carries one of the world’s highest sediment loads, affecting regional ecology and agriculture.