The True Post (Web News) Water politics in the region has taken a new turn. China has begun construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Yarlung Sanpo River (known as the Brahmaputra in India) in the Tibetan region.
The project is being called a “water atomic bomb” by some analysts because its potential impacts could spread not only to India but also to Bangladesh. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang recently laid the foundation stone for the proposed dam on the Yarlung Sanpo in Tibet. The project will cost an estimated $168 billion, and is being described as the world’s largest hydroelectric power facility. According to foreign media, the dam will have the capacity to generate 300 billion kilowatt hours** of electricity annually, which will play an important role in meeting China’s energy needs.
The project was announced by China in 2020 as part of its five-year development plan, and was formally approved in December 2024. The Yarlung Sanpo River originates in Tibet and flows through India’s northeastern states (mainly Arunachal Pradesh and Assam) before entering Bangladesh. For both India and Bangladesh, the river is an important water source for agricultural, industrial and domestic needs. India has serious reservations about China’s construction of a dam on the river. Indian experts say China could use water as a “strategic weapon”, which could lead not only to water shortages but also to floods, environmental destruction and human migration.
The construction of the dam will change the flow of the Brahmaputra River, which could cause water shortages or flooding in the downstream areas. Two Indian states and several areas in Bangladesh, where millions of people depend on the river, could be affected. According to environmental experts, the construction of the dam could severely affect local biodiversity, fish species, and agriculture. The population of these areas will likely be forced to migrate, which could lead to economic and social crises. China’s suspension of agreements such as the Indus Water Treaty and unilateral actions on rivers have increased diplomatic tensions in South Asia. India, which is already embroiled in border disputes with China, is now preparing for a new front on the water issue. Internationally, human rights organizations and environmental groups are also expressing reservations about the project. They demand that the region’s water resources be jointly managed under international law so that no single country has complete control.
