Context: China has approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra, near the Indian border.

• The dam is over three times the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam (currently the world’s largest, in central China). 

Project Overview 

• Location: Lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River (Tibetan name for Brahmaputra) at a huge gorge in the Himalayan reaches where river makes a huge U-turn to flow into Arunachal Pradesh. 

• Stated Purpose: To support China’s carbon neutrality goals, boost industries, and create jobs in Tibet. 

Concerns Associated with the Dam Construction 

• Engineering Challenges:  Tibetan plateau, regarded as the roof of the world, frequently experiences earthquakes as it is located over the tectonic plates.

• Environmental Impact: Potential disruption to local ecology and downstream water flow. Risk of altering the river’s course, affecting agriculture and biodiversity. 

• Geopolitical Risks: India and Bangladesh fear China’s ability to control water flow—concerns about the dam’s use to release excess water during conflicts, causing floods. 

• The size and scale of the project could enable China to release large quantities of water, potentially flooding border areas during times of hostility.

• China and India have established Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 to address trans-border river issues under which China provides India with hydrological data on Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers during flood seasons. India is also building its hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh.

India’s Initiatives to Counter such Projects

• India is building a dam on the Brahmaputra River in Arunachal Pradesh to counterbalance China’s infrastructure projects.

• BrahmaputraTo address cross-border river management, India and China share data through the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM), established in 2006.

• Under ELM, China provides hydrological information to India on the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers during flood seasons.

About Brahmaputra

• The Brahmaputra originates as the Siang or Dihang River from the Chemayungdung glacier in the Kailash range near Mansarovar Lake.

• It enters India in the west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh.

• The river is perennial and forms a gorge near Namcha Barwa.It is known as Siang and Dihang in its upper reaches in India.

• After being joined by the Dibang and Lohit rivers, it is called the Brahmaputra.

• Left bank Tributaries of Brahmaputra: Dibang' Lohit, Burhi Dihang, Dhasari, Kelang.

• Right bank Tributaries of Brahmaputra: Subansari, Kameng, Manas, Sankosh

• The Brahmaputra flows across the Tibetan Plateau, carving the deepest canyon on Earth with a vertical difference of 25,154 feet before reaching India.

• The dam is planned in one of the rainiest parts of mainland China, ensuring abundant water flow.

• States Through Which Brahmaputra Flows: The Brahmaputra flows through Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, West Bengal, and Sikkim in India.

• Tributaries and Confluence: In Bangladesh, the River Teesta joins the Brahmaputra, known there as Jumna, as a right-bank tributary.

• The Jumna further merges with the Padma, which subsequently joins the Meghna River.

• The Meghna flows into the Bay of Bengal.