China Starts Building $167 Billion Mega-Dam On Brahmaputra, India And Bangladesh Raised Concerns Over Water Control
Delhi : China on Saturday officially commenced construction of a massive hydropower project valued at USD 167.8 billion on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet. The project is being hailed as the largest infrastructure development of its kind globally. The massive hydropower complex will consist of five cascade power stations, with a total investment estimated at 1.2 trillion yuan.
The facility is expected to generate more than 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is enough to power over 300 million people. The hydropower station will be constructed at a major gorge in the Himalayas where the Brahmaputra makes a dramatic U-turn before flowing into Arunachal Pradesh and eventually into Bangladesh.
This ambitious undertaking has raised concerns in India and Bangladesh, both of which are downstream countries. The location is particularly sensitive due to its proximity to the India-China border and its placement along an active tectonic boundary known for seismic activity.
India’s foreign ministry has previously urged China to ensure that its upstream activities do not negatively affect the interests of downstream nations. In response, Beijing stated that the dam would not cause any “negative impact” and affirmed its commitment to ongoing communication with lower riparian countries.
Earlier this month, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu also warned that China’s mega-dam near the border poses a serious threat, calling it a “ticking water bomb.” He said it could endanger local tribes and livelihoods, and may be an even bigger concern than the military threat, as China “cannot be trusted” and could use the dam as a weapon.
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