China’s biggest dam is a ‘water bomb’ for India, it will cause devastation; Arunachal CM warns

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said that the massive dam being built by China near the state’s border will be a “water bomb” and it is a bigger issue than any other problem, apart from the military threat. In an interview to ‘PTI Video’, Khandu said that the world’s largest dam project on the Yarlung Tsangpo river is a matter of serious concern as China has not signed the international water treaty, which could force it to follow international norms. The Brahmaputra river is known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.

‘China cannot be trusted’

CM Khandu said, “The issue is that China cannot be trusted. No one knows what they will do when.” He said, “Apart from the military threat from China, I think this is a bigger issue than any other problem. It is going to pose an existential threat to our tribes and our livelihood. This is a very serious issue because China can also use it as a kind of ‘water bomb’. China’s huge dam project Known as the Yarlung Tsangpo Dam, the dam project was announced by then Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang after he visited the border area in 2021. According to reports, China approved the construction of this five-year project costing US$137 billion in 2024. It is estimated to generate 60,000 megawatts of electricity, making it the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Why is it a threat to India? Khandu said that if China had signed the international water treaty, there would have been no problem as it was mandatory to leave a certain amount of water in the lower part of the basin for aquatic life. He said that in fact, if China had signed international water-sharing agreements, the project could have proved to be a boon for India. This would have prevented flooding during monsoon in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Bangladesh, where the Brahmaputra river flows. Khandu said, “But China has not signed this agreement, and that is the problem… Suppose the dam is built and they suddenly release water, then our entire Siang area will be destroyed. Especially, the Adi tribe and other groups like them… will have to face devastating effects on all their property, land and especially human life.”

‘China does not share any information’

The Chief Minister said that this is why after consultation with the Government of India, the Arunachal Pradesh government has envisaged a project called Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, which will work as a defense mechanism and ensure water security. He said, “I believe that China is either about to start work on its side or has already started. But they do not share any information. If the construction of the dam is completed, then in future the water flow in our Siang and Brahmaputra rivers may decrease significantly.”

What is India’s counter plan?

Khandu said that for India’s water security, if the government is able to complete its project as per plan, it will be able to meet the water needs from its dam. He said that in future if China releases water, there will definitely be floods, but it can be controlled. Khandu said that for this reason the state government is talking to the local Adi tribes and other people of the area. He said, “I am going to hold a meeting soon to raise more awareness on this issue.”

What can the government do against this move of China?

When asked what the government can do against this move of China, the Chief Minister said that the government cannot sit idle by just registering protest. He said, “Who will explain to China? Since we cannot explain the reason to China, it is better that we focus on our defense mechanism and preparations. At present we are fully engaged in this.” The Chinese dam will be built across a huge gorge in the Himalayan range, where the river takes a U-turn to flow into Arunachal Pradesh.