India Unveils $77 Billion Hydro Plan Amid China’s Dam Push

India has unveiled an ambitious ₹6.4 trillion ($77 billion) plan to harness more than 76 gigawatts (GW) of hydroelectric power from the Brahmaputra River basin by 2047, amid growing concerns over China’s dam-building upstream. The announcement, made by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on October 13, 2025, comes at a critical moment as India seeks to meet rising electricity demands while reducing fossil fuel dependence.

The Transmission Plan: Key Features

The plan aims to build the transmission infrastructure required to carry hydroelectric power from 208 large hydro projects across 12 sub-basins in India’s northeastern region, notably,

• Arunachal Pradesh
• Assam
• Sikkim
• Mizoram
• Manipur
• Meghalaya
• Nagaland
• West Bengal

Together, these regions house over 80% of India’s untapped hydro potential, with Arunachal Pradesh alone contributing 52.2 GW of the total estimated capacity.

In addition to conventional hydro, the plan includes 11.1 GW of pumped-storage capacity, which can balance grid fluctuations and support renewable integration.

Investment and Phases

The plan is structured in two major phases,

• Phase 1 (until 2035): ₹1.91 trillion (~$23 billion)
• Phase 2 (2035–2047): ₹4.52 trillion (~$54 billion)

These phases will be executed with contributions from key public sector utilities, including,

• NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation)
• NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation)
• SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam)

Some projects are already under development, providing early momentum to the massive transmission rollout.

Geopolitical Context: China’s Upstream Dam

• The Brahmaputra River, known as the Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet, originates in China before entering India and flowing into Bangladesh.
• This transboundary river has become a geopolitical flashpoint due to China’s construction of a large hydroelectric dam on the upper stretch of the river.
• Indian experts fear that Chinese upstream activity could reduce dry-season flows by up to 85% in downstream Indian territories, particularly affecting Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
• This adds urgency and strategic relevance to India’s hydro expansion in the eastern Himalayan region.

Static Facts

• Plan Announced By: Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
• Date: October 13, 2025
• Total Investment: ₹6.4 trillion (~$77 billion)
• Total Capacity Target: 76 GW hydroelectric + 11.1 GW pumped storage
• Project Sites: 208 hydro projects in 12 sub-basins
• States Involved: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, West Bengal
• Phase 1 Cost: ₹1.91 trillion (till 2035)
• Phase 2 Cost: ₹4.52 trillion (2035–2047)
• Key PSUs: NHPC, NEEPCO, SJVN