China’s decision to build the world’s largest hydropower dam in a seismically active region on a river that flows into India and Bangladesh sparks concerns in both countries.

By Anjana Pasricha | Voice of America

China’s Xinhua news agency describes the development as “a safe project that prioritizes ecological protection” and says it would play a major role in meeting the country’s carbon neutrality goals.

But environmentalists in India have flagged concerns about the mega-project in an ecologically sensitive, mountainous region. They say harnessing the river could affect water flow in the country’s northeastern states and Bangladesh.

Summary

India is urging China to ensure that activities upstream do not harm downstream states, particularly in light of China’s plans to build a mega-dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River. Indian foreign ministry spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that India will monitor and take necessary measures to protect its interests. China, however, defends the project, claiming it underwent rigorous scientific evaluation and will not negatively impact the environment or downstream countries’ water rights.

Experts in India and Bangladesh are concerned about the project’s location in a seismically active and landslide-prone area. The recent earthquake in Tibet, which killed 126 people, has highlighted the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters. The dam’s proximity to a militarized border and contested territory further complicates the situation.

Analysts point out that China’s unilateral actions on transboundary rivers and its failure to share details like environmental impact assessments exacerbate concerns. They also draw parallels to China’s dams on the Mekong River, which have led to water scarcity in downstream countries.

India plans to build a dam on the Brahmaputra River to counter the potential impact of China’s project in Tibet, viewing it as a matter of national security. Bangladesh is also worried about the dam’s impact on tens of thousands living along the riverbanks, fearing water scarcity, ecological imbalance, and increased riverbank erosion.

Read the original version of this article at the publisher’s website here.

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