China’s world’s largest dam on Brahmaputra sparks alarms in India
On
In a move that has sparked alarm in neighboring countries, China has officially approved the construction
• India and Bangladesh raise concerns over water flow disruption
• Project’s scale and geopolitical implications intensify regional tensions
In a move that has sparked alarm in neighboring countries, China has officially approved the construction of a colossal hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, which flows into India as the Brahmaputra River.
The dam, projected to be the world’s largest hydropower facility, is expected to generate an astonishing 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—three times the output of China's Three Gorges Dam. The scale of the project, set to be built in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo, is causing serious concerns in both India and Bangladesh, countries that rely on the river for water and agricultural needs.
Any disruption to the river's flow could have catastrophic effects downstream. According to China's state news agency Xinhua, the new dam is set to outsize the Three Gorges Dam, which generates 88.2 billion kWh annually. With an estimated cost exceeding 1 trillion yuan (about US$137 billion), the project will surpass any infrastructure project ever attempted globally. Though the full details of the dam’s construction timeline and precise location are yet to be revealed, the project promises to be an unprecedented engineering feat.
The financial commitment is staggering compared to the $34.83 billion investment in the Three Gorges Dam, marking a giant leap in China’s infrastructure ambitions. Environmental nightmare? The technical challenges of building such a massive dam are considerable. The Yarlung Zangbo River, known for its steep terrain, drops nearly 2,000 meters over just 50 km, offering immense hydropower potential but also posing major engineering hurdles.
The project will require carving out six 20 km-long tunnels through the Namcha Barwa mountain to divert half of the river’s flow. The dam’s site is located on a tectonic plate boundary, raising concerns over potential earthquake risks. Additionally, while China asserts that the project will be built with advanced geological considerations, the full social and environmental impact remains unclear. Many local populations may face displacement as the dam takes shape. The dam's massive scale has sent shockwaves through India, which shares the Brahmaputra River with China.
There are growing fears that China may use the dam to control water flow, potentially manipulating water supplies for millions of people in both India and Bangladesh. The Brahmaputra is a vital freshwater resource for India, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the country’s freshwater and 40 percent of its hydropower potential. Any disruption could lead to water scarcity and even flash floods in the region. India has already raised concerns about the lack of transparency from China regarding the project’s potential impact on water flow.
Geopolitical analyst Genevieve Donnellon-May warned in 2022 that this could lead to a “water war” between the two nations. India’s response and tensions In response to China’s massive hydropower project, India has announced plans to build 12 hydropower stations in Arunachal Pradesh. The objective is to mitigate the impact of the dam on the river’s flow and reduce India’s dependence on downstream water. However, this move has already escalated tensions with China, as the country claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory, referring to it as the "southern part of Tibet."
As India and China continue to jockey for control over the Brahmaputra River, the stakes are high. This colossal project has the potential to reshape water politics in the region, with long-term implications for millions of people dependent on this vital resource. With the completion of the world’s largest hydropower dam looming, it’s clear that the battle for control over Asia’s most crucial water source is only just beginning. The geopolitical and environmental consequences could ripple across borders, altering the region's power dynamics for years to come.
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