Why in news?
China recently approved construction of a gigantic 60‑gigawatt hydropower dam at the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet’s Medog County. Because the river flows into India as the Brahmaputra and then into Bangladesh, the project has raised strategic and ecological concerns among downstream countries.
Background and location
The Yarlung Tsangpo originates on the Tibetan Plateau and arcs around the Himalayas before turning south into Arunachal Pradesh, where it becomes the Brahmaputra. The “Great Bend” near Medog is a deep gorge where the river drops sharply in elevation. Harnessing this drop could produce more electricity than any existing hydropower station, surpassing China’s Three Gorges Dam. However, the area is seismically active and prone to heavy rainfall and glacial lake outburst floods.
Geopolitical implications
- China will control the headwaters of a river that is lifeblood to millions in India and Bangladesh. Without a binding water‑sharing treaty, downstream nations worry about reduced flow, sudden releases and ecological disruption.
- The dam’s site is near Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as “South Tibet.” Building infrastructure there adds a hydropower dimension to the existing territorial dispute.
- India has responded by planning its own Upper Siang project on the Brahmaputra, hinting at a potential dam‑building race.
Environmental and social concerns
- Storing enormous volumes of water will alter the natural timing and quantity of river flow, affecting irrigation, fisheries and sediment transport in Assam and Bangladesh.
- The region is near the epicentre of the 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake. A mega‑dam here increases the risk that an earthquake or glacial lake outburst could cause catastrophic failure.
- Changes at the river’s source could influence monsoon patterns and groundwater recharge downstream, impacting agriculture and wetlands.
- Hydropower construction threatens biodiversity by disturbing aquatic habitats and migration routes of fish.
Possible courses of action
- Rather than matching China dam for dam, India could pursue riparian diplomacy. Establishing a Brahmaputra River Commission with Bhutan and Bangladesh could promote joint monitoring, data sharing and flood management.
- Strengthening the Expert Level Mechanism between India and China would enable better transparency regarding dam design, safety and river flow.
- Downstream countries should invest in early‑warning systems, flood‑resilient infrastructure and community‑based adaptation to cope with any changes in the river’s behaviour.
- The focus should shift from competing for hydro‑hegemony to ensuring ecological harmony and protecting cultural ties to the river.
Conclusion
The Brahmaputra is more than a waterway; it is a lifeline for people and ecosystems across the Himalayas. Mega‑dams at its source have far‑reaching consequences. Sustainable, cooperative river governance is essential to balance energy needs with environmental and social well‑being.