India voices concerns over China's plan for world's largest dam on Brahmaputra
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China’s announcement to construct the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra River has sparked concerns in India over environmental, seismic, and geopolitical implications.
The dam, proposed in Tibet near the Indian border, is part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan and is expected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, significantly outpacing the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam.
The new dam, planned for the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra River), will be located in a fragile Himalayan zone prone to earthquakes. Experts warn that the project could severely disrupt the river’s flow, leading to droughts and catastrophic floods, affecting millions of Indians living downstream. The dam also raises concerns over its potential impact on the regional ecology and agricultural practices in both Tibet and India.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has responded firmly, emphasizing the country’s established rights to the Brahmaputra’s waters. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests.” New Delhi has urged Beijing to ensure that downstream states like Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are not adversely affected by the project.
India has repeatedly communicated its concerns to China through diplomatic and expert-level channels, reiterating the need for transparency and consultation on transboundary water projects.
The ambitious hydroelectric project has the potential to escalate geopolitical tensions between India and China. Experts have previously warned of “water wars” between the two nations, with water security emerging as a critical issue.
With an estimated cost of $137 billion, the dam will surpass the scale of any previous infrastructure project globally. Its electricity generation capacity will more than triple that of the Three Gorges Dam. However, Beijing has not disclosed the number of people who may be displaced by the project, even though the Three Gorges Dam required the resettlement of over 1.4 million people.
India has assured that it will closely monitor developments and take appropriate action to safeguard its interests. The government has also stressed the importance of transparency and cooperation from China to mitigate the potential ecological and social impacts of the project.