Expert Warns of Risks from China’s Massive Brahmaputra Dam Project

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: India’s concerns over China’s massive dam project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, known in India as the Brahmaputra, have been reiterated by Foreign Affairs expert Robinder Sachdeva. Speaking about the potential implications, Sachdeva emphasized the project's far-reaching consequences for India’s environment, water security, and agricultural needs.

“This dam on the river Yarlung Tsangpo is a huge project with massive implications for the environment, the soil, and the amount of water we get to Arunachal and Assam,” Sachdeva stated. He estimated the cost of the project to be an astonishing $140 billion, making it one of the most ambitious hydropower projects globally.

Sachdeva warned about the strategic and environmental risks posed by the dam. “China will and could control the flow of water, and we may get less water for drinking and irrigation. Secondly, it might have an impact on the underlying soil and terrain,” he explained, stressing that the project's scale could potentially destabilize ecosystems in downstream areas.

India has consistently expressed concerns through diplomatic channels regarding China’s hydropower activities in the Tibet Autonomous Region. As a lower riparian state, India has advocated for transparency and consultation on projects that could impact water flow into its northeastern states.