Chinese Hydropower Project on the Yarlung Zangbo
The Chinese government has commenced the construction of a significant hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo. This project is positioned just before the river bends into Arunachal Pradesh, where the river is known as the Siang, and further downstream in Assam, it becomes the Brahmaputra.
Impact and Concerns
- Regional Anxiety: The project has raised concerns in Arunachal Pradesh and Bangladesh regarding potential flooding risks.
- Flood Risks: Increased capacity to manipulate river flows could escalate flood risks in Northeast India.
- Information Scarcity: Little is known about the project's storage capacity, increasing unease.
Hydrological and Environmental Concerns
- Disruption Concerns: Potential disruption to water flow affecting hydro projects in Northeast India.
- Hydropower Potential: The Northeast holds nearly half of India's hydropower capacity, with over 80% untapped.
- Flood Patterns: Unpredictability in flood patterns is a significant concern in the lower riparian regions.
India-China Water Sharing Agreement
- In 2013, an MoU was signed between India and China to share river flow information.
- Concerns arise due to China's inconsistent sharing of hydrological data.
Proposed Indian Responses
- Strategic Countermeasures: Niti Aayog proposed a multipurpose project in the Siang region in 2017.
- Project Benefits: This Indian project could generate electricity and provide storage to mitigate flood risks from the Chinese dam.
- Current Status: Progress on the Siang dam is slow due to local opposition and insufficient investigations.
Challenges and Recommendations
- Local Opposition: Concerns stem from potential displacement and livelihood losses.
- Collaboration Needed: Political leaders and technical experts must address and mitigate these apprehensions.
- Storage Facilities: Urgent need to develop downstream storage facilities for the Brahmaputra.
