Tue Apr 08 12:06:25 UTC 2025: ## China’s Brahmaputra Dam Plan Sparks Concerns in India
**Guwahati, April 8, 2025** – A proposed 60,000 megawatt hydropower project by China on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, has raised serious concerns in India. Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao described the project not as a dam, but as a potential “water bomb” that could be used against downstream countries like India.
Gao cited the June 2000 floods in Arunachal Pradesh, attributed to a similar sudden release of water, as evidence of the potential devastation. He urged India to construct a dam on the Siang River (the Brahmaputra’s Indian name) to mitigate the risks posed by the Chinese project.
The seminar, organized by Asian Confluence, brought together experts from India, Nepal, and Bhutan, who expressed deep concern over the project located at the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo. Concerns extended beyond the immediate flood risk. Author and Tibetologist Claude Arpi highlighted China’s ambition to not only generate power but also potentially divert the river’s water to the Yellow River. Bertil Lintner, an expert on Asian politics, pointed to China’s extensive dam construction on the Mekong River as a precedent, emphasizing the need for a water-sharing agreement between India and China.
The chairman of the Brahmaputra Board, Ranbir Singh, highlighted the Brahmaputra basin’s current water surplus and questioned whether China’s dam could turn it into a water-deficient region. He advocated for a multifaceted strategy, including international collaboration to oppose the project.
The seminar concluded with a call for India to conduct more scientific studies to build a strong case for international opposition to China’s plans. The lack of a water-sharing agreement between India and China remains a major point of concern amidst rising tensions.
First Piper 