China's Dam Construction on the Brahmaputra
China has initiated construction of a massive $167.8 billion hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River near the India-Tibet border, which is set to become the world’s largest dam upon completion. The project has sparked concerns in India and Bangladesh about potential disruptions to the river flow.
Project Details
- The dam is located at the "Great Bend" in Tibet's Medog county, with a generation capacity of 60,000 MW.
- It surpasses the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze, which is the current largest hydropower station globally.
Concerns Raised
- The Arunachal Pradesh chief minister described the dam as a potential "water bomb" and "existential threat" to local tribes and livelihoods, fearing that sudden water release could cause devastating floods.
- Experts have highlighted risks related to flooding, dam failures, landslides, and earthquakes, as Tibet is a seismically active zone.
India's Response
- India has not officially reacted but is monitoring Chinese activities on the river.
- The Ministry of External Affairs stressed the necessity for transparency and consultation with downstream countries.
- India is considering building dams for flow management, including the Upper Siang project in Arunachal Pradesh, to counter Chinese hydropower projects.
- The National Water Development Authority proposes linking Brahmaputra’s tributaries to the Ganga basin for water redistribution.
India is advised to engage diplomatically with China to obtain hydrological data and ensure disaster preparedness with neighboring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
