India on Thursday raised objections to China's Lalho hydro electric project on Xiabuqu river, a tributary of Brahmaputra river.

Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his regular press briefing that China should be "mindful" of India's interests while undertaking any projects on the tributaries of Brahmaputra river.

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"We have conveyed to the Chinese side that they should be mindful of the interests of the lower riparian country while undertaking any projects on these rivers," Swarup said. "The Chinese side has conveyed on several occasions that they are only undertaking run-of-the-river hydro power projects which do not involve diversion of the waters of the Brahmaputra."

Last week, China blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra river to facilitate work on Lalho project.

A reporteldy upset New Delhi believed that China's move to block the river is meant to support its ally Pakistan in the wake of Indian threat to abrogate Indus water treaty.

Swarup also noted that India will raise the issue with China during the next expert level meeting.

"We have an expert-level mechanism which meets regularly to discuss issues concerning cross border rivers," he said. "All relevant issues which occurred after the last meeting will be taken up at the next meeting of the expert-level mechanism."

The $740 Lalho dam on Xiabuqu river, a tributary of Yarlung Zangbo (a Chinese name of Brahmaputra) in Tibet, is considered as China's most expensive hydro power project till date. The work on the dam started in June 2014 and likely to finish by end of next year. 

Tagschina, India, Pakistan, Brahmaputra, Lalho hydro