Guwahati, Oct 14 (IANS): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday said the reported move by China to operationalise a hydro-power station on the Brahmaputra will cause irreparable damage to Assam.

Gogoi said the Assam government had all along been taking up the issue of Chinese dams on the Brahmaputra with the central government.

He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter with Chinese President during the former's last visit to Beijing.

"Modi perhaps did not take up the matter seriously which is of vital importance to the people of Assam and the northeast," Gogoi said in a statement.

He said the fact that China had built dams on the Brahmaputra showed the central government's casual approach.

"It is an utter failure at the highest diplomatic level to prevail upon China not to go ahead with the (dam) construction plan," he said.

"What purpose will it serve if the bonhomie and camaraderie generated by talks could not be translated into concrete action vis-a-vis protecting India's interests," Gogoi added.