The Chinese government has given its green signal to the construction of the world’s largest dam on the river Yarlung Zangbo/Tsangpo (known as the Brahmaputra in India) on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau. The project has raised concerns among environmentalists as it will lead to the displacement of millions of people and the destruction of the natural ecosystem in Tibet. It could seriously affect millions of people downstream in India and Bangladesh.

About the Proposed Dam

The construction of a dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River was announced by China in 2020.

It will be the world’s largest dam in the world overtaking the Three Gorges Dam built on the Yangtze River in China.

The total investment in the dam is over 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion), making it the single largest infrastructure project in the world.

The project is expected to generate nearly 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually which is expected to meet the electricity needs of 30 crore people per year.

Currently, the world’s largest installed hydel power capacity is the Three Gorges Dam which was designed to produce 88.2 billion kWh.

Concern about the Project

The Dam is being built along a tectonic plate boundary where there is a high probability of earthquakes. It may endanger the dam and the population living in the downstream areas.

The dam will lead to the displacement of people and the destruction of the natural ecosystem in Tibet.

Many people see it as the continuous exploitation of the natural resources of Tibet which is tightly controlled by China.

Four to six 20 km long tunnels will be built through the Namcha Barwa mountains to divert half of the river’s flow at about 2,000 cubic meters per second. This is of concern to India.

Concern of India

The Yarlung Zangbo(Tsangpo) River enters India through the Namcha Barwa mountains.
There is a concern that China will block or divert the flow of the river away from India.
China by building the dam on the river could use it as a weapon against India.
China by storing water can cause water scarcity in India. By suddenly releasing the water, China can create massive floods in Arunachal, Assam, and Bangladesh.
The Yarlung Zangbo River enters India in Arunachal Pradesh and China claims that Arunachal Pradesh is part of its territory.

About Brahmaputra River

Brahmaputra River is one of the largest rivers in the world and originates in the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake, Tibet.
It is known as the Yarlung Zangbo(Tsangpo) River in Tibet and covers a distance of 1200 km in Tibet.
It enters Arunachal Pradesh near Namcha Barwa mountain foothills and is known as Siang or Dihang.
In Assam, the Dibang or Sikang and Lohit rivers join Siang and then it is called Brahmaputra.
The Brahmaputra enters Bangladesh near Dhubri.
In Bangladesh, the Teesta River joins it and it is known as Jamuna.
It finally merges with the river Padma (Ganga in Bangladesh) and forms the world’s largest delta before falling into the Bay of Bengal.