China’s approval of a large hydropower project on the Brahmaputra River, also known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, has recently raised serious concerns in India. With a projected cost of $137 billion, this project is billed as the largest dam in the world and is anticipated to have significant effects on downstream nations like Bangladesh and India.
China has been requested by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to make sure that the interests of states downstream are not negatively impacted by the construction of this dam. The project may cause water scarcity and ecological harm in areas that rely significantly on the river’s supplies, according to the Indian government. Regarding such important initiatives, the MEA spokeswoman emphasized the necessity of openness and consultation with downstream countries.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the possibility of floods in Indian areas such as Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Experts caution that the dam’s location, which is in a seismically active area and around 2 kilometers above the Assam plains, presents a catastrophic risk. Large amounts of water could be released in the event of an earthquake or dam failure, causing severe floods in certain areas.
India has reiterated its concerns through existing channels in diplomatic engagements with China on this matter. An Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) between China and India has been in place since 2006 to examine issues pertaining to trans-border rivers, including the exchange of hydrological data during flood seasons. Data exchange on trans-border rivers was one of the topics of recent negotiations between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Chinese officials have responded to India’s worries by claiming that the dam project will not have an adverse effect on lower riparian states. They assert that ecological protection is given top priority in the project and that safety precautions have been sufficiently addressed. China’s past lack of transparency in comparable projects and its compliance with international water-sharing standards, however, continue to raise doubts.
In summary, the Brahmaputra River crisis demonstrates the intricate relationship between geopolitical conflicts, environmental concerns, and regional stability. It is becoming more and more important for both countries to manage their shared water resources cooperatively as India keeps pressing China for guarantees about how the project will affect areas downstream.
