The Chinese government has approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra.
- The construction of the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Indian border, has raised concerns in riparian states — India and Bangladesh.
- This project, costing an estimated $137 billion, surpasses any other single infrastructure initiative globally, including China’s renowned Three Gorges Dam.
Key Highlights and Concerns:
- Strategic and Geopolitical Impact:
- The dam’s location near the Indian border gives China the potential to regulate water flow into downstream countries, affecting water availability in India and Bangladesh.
- During hostilities, the controlled release of large water volumes could lead to flooding in border areas, escalating security concerns.
- Environmental and Geological Risks:
- The project is situated in a seismically active region along a tectonic plate boundary, posing substantial engineering and safety challenges.
- The Tibetan plateau’s vulnerability to frequent earthquakes adds to the risks of building such a massive structure.
- Riparian Collaboration and Disputes:
- India and China have an existing Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) to discuss trans-border river issues. However, the scale of this project underscores the need for enhanced collaboration and transparency.
- India’s plans to construct its own dam on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh could intensify competition and disputes over water resource management.
- The Brahmaputra’s Significance:
- Originating from the Kailash ranges of the Himalayas, the Brahmaputra flows through Tibet (as the Yarlung Zangbo), Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Bangladesh before merging into the Bay of Bengal.
- The river enters in India in Arunachal Pradesh, where it is known as the Dihang (or Siang) River, and turns more southerly. The river then flows through Arunachal Pradesh in a south/ south easterly direction for about 230 km to reach Pasighat. Two other rivers viz. the Lohit and the Dibang join the Siang at about 30 km downstream of Pasighat to form the mighty Brahmaputra river.
- The catchments area of Brahmaputra in Tibet is 2, 93,000 Sq. Km; in India and Bhutan is 2,40,000 Sq. Km and in Bangladesh is 47,000 Sq. Km. The Brahmaputra basin extends over an area of 5,80,000 Sq. Km up to its confluence within Bangladesh.
- The river’s basin supports millions of people across these regions, making its flow critical for agriculture, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
- Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts:
- Changes in water flow could disrupt agriculture and fisheries, vital for local communities in Assam and Bangladesh.
- Alterations in sediment flow may affect riverine ecosystems and delta formations downstream.
