China pledges water will still flow

BEIJING - A leading Chinese power company has promised that the world's highest hydropower station in Tibet will not reduce water flows downstream on the Yarlung Zangbo River.

The river, also named Brahmaputra in its lower reaches, joins the Ganges. It traverses China's Tibet, India and Bangladesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Damming of the river began on Nov 12, marking the formal start of construction of the 7.9-billion-yuan ($1.2-billion) Zangmu Hydropower Station. The move has caused concerns in the countries downstream, including India, who fear the project will disrupt water flows.