China has approved the construction of the world’s largest dam on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet, close to the Indian border. Estimated at $137 billion, this project raises strategic and environmental concerns for India and Bangladesh. The massive hydropower dam, located at a tectonic boundary prone to earthquakes, has been touted as safe by Chinese authorities, who emphasize ecological protection and advanced engineering techniques.
Strategic and Diplomatic Implications
India’s Concerns: The dam could empower China to control water flow and potentially flood border areas during hostilities.
India’s Response: India is constructing its own dam on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh to counter potential Chinese control.
Data Sharing Framework: India and China established the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 for trans-border river discussions. China provides India with hydrological data during flood seasons, reaffirmed during the December 18 meeting between India’s NSA Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Engineering and Environmental Challenges
Tectonic Risks: The dam is located on a tectonic plate boundary in the seismically active Tibetan Plateau, known as the roof of the world.
Ecological Claims: China asserts the dam prioritizes ecological protection, backed by geological explorations and advanced technologies.
Geopolitical Context
Regional Impacts: The dam could affect downstream riparian states like Bangladesh, which rely heavily on the Brahmaputra.
Scale Comparison: With a proposed vertical drop of 25,154 feet, the dam would surpass the Three Gorges Dam, making it the largest infrastructure project globally.
Summary of the news
| Key Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in news | China approved a $137-billion dam on the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Zangbo) in Tibet near the Indian border. The world’s largest hydropower project raises concerns in India and Bangladesh over water control and potential flooding risks. |
| Location of the Dam | Lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) river in Tibet. |
| Cost of the Project | $137 billion (One trillion yuan). |
| Establishment Year of ELM | 2006, for India-China trans-border river discussions. |
| Tectonic Activity | The dam site lies on a tectonic plate boundary, making it prone to earthquakes. |
| Brahmaputra River Facts | Originates in Tibet, flows into Arunachal Pradesh, India, and then into Bangladesh. |
| China’s Data Sharing with India | Includes hydrological information on Brahmaputra and Sutlej during flood seasons. |
| India’s Response | India is constructing its own dam on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Comparison with Three Gorges Dam | The proposed dam surpasses the scale of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the largest globally. |
| Tibetan Plateau | Known as the “roof of the world,” it is seismically active due to tectonic movements. |
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