Dibang River
{{Short description|River in Arunachal Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Dibang river
| image =
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|28.7807|95.8603}}
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|27.8012|95.5173}}
| river_system = Brahmaputra River
| mouth_location = Sadiya, Assam
| tributaries_left = Emra, Anelih
| tributaries_right = Tangon, Angolin, Amli
| mouth = Lohit River
| native_name = {{native name list |tag1=|name1= |tag2=clk |name2=Talon }}
| native_name_lang =
| length = {{cvt|324|km}}
| basin_size = {{cvt|13933|km2}}
| discharge1_location = Kobo Chapori (into the Brahmaputra)
| source1 = Dri
| source2 = Tangon
| pushpin_map = India Arunachal Pradesh#India
| map = Dibang river.png
| map_size = 260px
}}
Dibang River, also known as Talo in Idu,{{Cite web|last=Pisharoty|first=Sangeeta Barooah|date=22 July 2019|title=Explainer {{!}} The Controversy Surrounding Dibang Dam, India's Largest Hydropower Project|url=https://thewire.in/government/dibang-dam-arunachal-pradesh-hydropower-project|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-16|website=The Wire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722153029/https://thewire.in/government/dibang-dam-arunachal-pradesh-hydropower-project |archive-date=22 July 2019 }} is an upstream tributary river of the Brahmaputra in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It originates and flows through the Mishmi Hills in the (Upper) Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley districts.R. S. Envirolink Technologies (July 2016). [http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/CIA_CCS_Dibangbasin.pdf Cumulative Impact & Carrying Capacity Study of Dibang Sub Basin on Brahmaputra River Valley.] Volume I. Prepared for Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Accessed on 16 June 2021. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210616141926/http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/CIA_CCS_Dibangbasin.pdf Archived] on 16 June 2021.
Course
File:Dibang valley (7453899412).jpg
The Dibang originates near Keya pass on the Indo-Chinese border in the Upper Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh. The drainage basin of the river within Arunachal Pradesh covers the districts of Upper Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley.{{cite web|title=Damming Dibang River: Mishmi's resistance against 3000 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project|url=http://www.themishmis.com/index.php/resources/paper/80-damming-dibang-river-idu-mishmi-s-resistance-against-3000-mw-dibang-multipurpose-project.html|accessdate=14 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207230014/http://themishmis.com/index.php/resources/paper/80-damming-dibang-river-idu-mishmi-s-resistance-against-3000-mw-dibang-multipurpose-project.html|archive-date=7 December 2013|url-status=dead}} The Mishmi Hills lie in the upper course of the Dibang which enters the plains at Bomjir, Dambuk etc.
Between Bomjir (Nizamghat) and Sadiya the Dibang has a steep river gradient and exhibits braided channel morphology, with its width varying from {{convert|4|to|9|km|mi|0}}. It often changes its course, resulting in flooding and destruction of cultivable land and forests along its banks.{{cite web|title=Dibang Multipurpose Project - Chapter-4: Water Resources|url=http://apspcb.org.in/pdf/dt.%2022-09-11/EIA%20EMP%20Report%20Dibang%20Multipurpose%20Project%20(3000%20MW)/Additional%20Study/Chapter-4%20Water%20Resources.pdf|publisher=WAPCOS Limited|accessdate=14 September 2013}} The Dibang, with a total length of {{convert|195|km|mi}}, enters the River Lohit north of the Dibru-Saikhowa sanctuary near the Assamese town of Sadiya.{{cite web|title=Restoration Proposal for Dibang & Lohit Rivers|url=http://isikkim.com/2012-02-restoration-proposal-for-dibang-lohit-rivers-07-6/|accessdate=14 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317234656/http://isikkim.com/2012-02-restoration-proposal-for-dibang-lohit-rivers-07-6/|archive-date=17 March 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Dibang sub basin of Brahmaputra Basin|url=http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/basin%20maps/brahmaputra_barak/Dibang.htm|publisher=National Institute of Hydrology|accessdate=14 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801184529/http://nih.ernet.in/rbis/basin%20maps/brahmaputra_barak/Dibang.htm|archive-date=1 August 2014|url-status=dead}}
Tributaries
The Sisar, Mathun, Tangon, Dri, Ithun and Emra are the major tributaries of the Dibang. The Dibang is also joined by a number of tributaries such as the Airi, Ilu, Imu, Ahi, Ashu, Epipani and Eze (Deopani) rivers during its course. Most of these rivers join it in the upper course in the hills thus giving it a wide fan-shaped catchment region.
Hydro projects
As of 2016 there were 18 hydro-electric projects at different stages of proposal and planning in the Dibang basin.
In 2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for a 3000 MW dam as part of the Dibang Multipurpose Project the district of Lower Dibang Valley. Seventeen other dams with power potential between 20 and 4500 MW have also been proposed for the Dibang. The proposed Dibang dam, at {{convert|288|m|ft}}, on completion would be among the largest dams in India and among the world's tallest gravity dams has since run into opposition from the Adi, Idu and the Assamese who live downstream of the project.{{cite journal|title=Disquiet in Dibang|journal=Down to Earth|date=15 May 2008|url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/4539|accessdate=14 September 2013|archive-date=13 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313020927/http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/4539|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Protests against public hearing on Dibang dam|url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar0513/state05|accessdate=14 September 2013|newspaper=The Assam Tribune|date=5 March 2013|archive-date=16 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016124742/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar0513%2Fstate05|url-status=dead}}
On 18 July 2019, the Prime Minister chaired Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave the greenlight to continue with the Dibang hydropower project. The renewal has been backed by the electricity the project has the capacity to generate, help with flood control in the region and as a control measure against Chinese hydro projects.
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{coord|27|48|N|95|35|E|display=title|region:IN_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}