China’s 7 Billion Mega Dam Mission on Brahmaputra in Tibet Kicks Off — How May It Have an effect on India?


China on Saturday formally kicked off the development on a mega dam mission within the decrease reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo, higher reaches of the Brahmaputra River in Tibet. The mission has reportedly sparked issues in nations together with India and Bangladesh, that are the downstream nations. 

After China had introduced its plans to construct a mega dam on the Brahmaputra River, India voiced its issues with Beijing final yr, together with “the necessity for transparency and session” with the nations that lie downstream.

China Dam’s Impacts On India  

The federal government of China has insisted that the mission goals to ship electrical energy for exterior consumption and handle native demand in Xizang. Nevertheless, the development of the dam may hurt the downstream nations of the Brahmpautra.

India has reportedly been fastidiously monitoring the developments referring to the Brahmaputra River, together with China’s plans to develop hydropower tasks. Furthermore, New Delhi has additionally taken needed measures to guard the nation’s and residents’ pursuits, together with preventive and corrective measures to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the individuals residing in downstream areas.

In keeping with a report by India At present, with an funding of billions of {dollars}, the mission is anticipated to generate over 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electrical energy yearly. 

In keeping with the report, the mission’s hydropower station shall be constructed at a major gorge within the Himalayas, particularly the place the Brahmaputra River makes a U-turn earlier than coming into Arunachal Pradesh and subsequently flowing into Bangladesh.

Thus, the mission has raised issues in India and Bangladesh.

India’s Considerations On Dam Building 

The issues of India relating to the development of the dam have been additionally raised through the go to of Overseas Secretary Vikram Misri to Beijing for a gathering of the Overseas Secretary-Vice Overseas Minister mechanism between each nations on January 26 and 27.

Quick ahead to July 2025, Exterior Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar met Chinese language President Xi Jinping in Beijing and mentioned the trajectory of India-China bilateral relations. Throughout the talks with Chinese language Overseas Minister Wang Yi, the EAM emphasised a long-term strategy to resolving bilateral points.

Groundbreaking Ceremony

Chinese language Premier Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Celebration of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended the groundbreaking ceremony and introduced the official begin of the Yarlung Zangbo River Decrease Reaches Hydropower Mission within the Tibet area.

Accountable individuals from related departments of the central and state organs, related central enterprises, members of the professional advisory committee for the development of the decrease reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River hydropower mission, mission analysis, testing and development items, and native individuals’s representatives attended the groundbreaking ceremony, Xinhua information company reported.

In keeping with IANS, the state-owned press company reported that the mission primarily adopts the event methodology of straightening the bends and diverting water by means of tunnels, and builds 5 cascade energy stations with a complete funding of about 1.2 trillion yuan, which is about 167.8 billion US {dollars}.

Additionally Learn: Indus Water Treaty Suspension: Can Pakistan-China Make Brahmaputra A Weapon In opposition to India? Knowledgeable Says…

India’s Bridge Over Brahmaputra River

In keeping with ANI, the Indian Railways sanctioned the development of the Second Rail-cum-Street Bridge at Saraighat over the Brahmaputra River, beneath the doubling mission of the Agthori-Kamakhya railway line in Assam.

The mission, accepted beneath the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), is estimated to value Rs. 1,473.77 crore and is focused for completion by December 2029. The bridge will cowl a complete size of seven.062 km between Agthori and Kamakhya stations, and can function a 1.3 km-long metal composite girder over the Brahmaputra.

(with businesses’ inputs)