Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India and its neighbourhood, Issue: Concerns over China’s Yarlung dam.
Context:
China is constructing a hydropower project (Yarlung dam project) on the upper reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet. Though not an immediate threat, it has serious long-term strategic, environmental, and diplomatic implications for India and the region.
Key Takeaways:
Project Overview:
- China’s Yajiang Group is building a massive hydropower project near the Indian border in Medog county, south of Arunachal Pradesh.
- It involves five dams, 60 GW capacity with an estimated cost of $16.7 billion.
- It will divert Yarlung Tsangpo through tunnels to generate power and sell electricity.
Concerns:
- Geo-political concerns: China portrays the project as commercial, but the first official objective listed is “national security” which indicates geopolitical motives.
- Downstream concerns: India and Bangladesh are concerned because Yarlung becomes Brahmaputra downstream. It provides water to Northeast India and Bangladesh.
- Water as a Weapon: China could manipulate flow in future conflict scenarios.
- Environmental Impact: Sediment load, water quality, and ecology of Northeast India could suffer. It can also lead to increased floods or water shortages are possible.
- Lack of Data Sharing: Beijing’s record on sharing river data is poor as seen in the case of Mekong, Brahmaputra. India and neighbours are often left vulnerable.
Measures needed:
- Avoid Alarmism: Even though the current risk is manageable; focus should be on long-term preparedness.
- Risk Management: Strengthen India’s ability to respond to disasters and disruptions at short notice.
- Infrastructure Response: Build dams, buffers, and channels downstream to enhance storage, control, and energy generation.
- Diplomatic Engagement: Push China to cooperate in a rules-based manner. Rely on using multilateral platforms and international law.
- Technical Surveillance: Enhance space-based monitoring using India’s strong satellite capability and use hydro-geospatial tools for early warning systems.
- Coordination: India must coordinate with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Global partners such as U.S. and Taiwan. The ICJ’s reaffirmation of water-sharing laws also offers India legal ground for future action.
Conclusion:
India must adopt a calibrated and proactive approach focussing on Infrastructure upgrade, Diplomatic outreach and Scientific monitoring. India needs to remember that “It is the weak who protest loudly. The strong do something about it.”
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