Dhemaji: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu, in an interview on Sunday night, said China is responsible for the turbidity of waters of the Siang and Brahmaputra.

Khandu said he had visited the spot where the Siang enters India at Gelong in Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet where it is called Yarlung Tsangpo. It is known as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh before it enters Assam. There it joins Dibang and Lohit.

"It is important to find out exactly what has caused the waters of the Siang to change colour. In other words we must find out what happened in the river's course in China which is trying to hide this," he added.

District-level investigation of waters from the river was done and deputy commissioners of Upper Siang, Siang and East Siang districts said sediments in water are similar to cement or other construction materials and the water is not safe for use.

The chief minister said: "We are in constant collaboration with the central government and officials of the Union ministry of water resources have also collected the river's water from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for tests. Turbidity of water has affected arrival of migratory birds in the Daying Ering wildlife sanctuary and causes death of fishes and livestock on the river bank after consuming water."

Khandu said recently the Centre had raised the matter with China. "People in our country have raised questions from the beginning about China's hand behind turbidity of water," he said.