China Begins Construction of World's Largest Dam on Brahmaputra in Tibet; India Flags 'Water Bomb' Risk.

China's $168 Billion Mega-Dam on Yarlung Tsangpo Sparks Water Security Fears in India, Bangladesh.

New Delhi:- China has officially begun construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet, known as the Brahmaputra in India and Jamuna in Bangladesh. The project was approved in December last year and the groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang on July 19 in Nyingchi City. 

Key Details:

Scale: The dam will cost $167.8 billion / 1.2 trillion yuan and include five cascading power stations. With 60 GW installed capacity and 300,000 GWh annual output, it could generate 3x the electricity of the Three Gorges Dam.

Location Risk: The site is in a massive Himalayan gorge where the river U-turns into Arunachal Pradesh. It lies in one of the rainiest, most seismically active regions along a tectonic plate boundary, raising earthquake concerns.

India’s Concerns:

   Water Flow: India fears the dam could reduce dry season flows by up to 85%, affecting 100+ million people downstream.

   Water Bomb' Threat: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu called it an “existential threat” and a “water bomb”, warning China could release water during conflicts to flood border areas.

  Ecology: Experts warn it could trap nutrient-rich sediments vital for Assam/Bangladesh soil fertility, disrupt fish migration, and harm endangered species like Bengal tigers and red pandas.

India’s Response:

   -India is fast-tracking its own 11,200 MW Upper Siang Multipurpose Storage Dam in Arunachal Pradesh to counterbalance China.

   -The MEA said India “carefully monitors all developments” and has urged China to ensure transparency. India demands resumption of hydrological data sharing.

    Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma noted mixed views: less water could hurt biodiversity but also act as “flood cushioning”. 

China’s Stand: Beijing claims the project underwent “decades of in-depth research”, prioritizes ecological protection, and will not negatively impact downstream areas. China’s foreign ministry said it would help “downstream disaster prevention”. 

 Experts say the dam aligns with China’s goal to leverage natural resources to consolidate control over Tibet. Without cooperation, analysts warn a “dam-building race” could undermine regional stability. 

Want a shorter 60-word version for Instagram/WhatsApp news cards too?