Brahmaputra Dams: India-China Tensions: UPSC Current Affairs

Description

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Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS

Context

China started construction of a dam on the Brahmaputra River, increasing concerns in India and Bangladesh about the impact on river flow.

Brahmaputra River

It is a trans-boundary river, flows through Southwestern China, Northeastern India, and Bangladesh.
It is known as Brahmaputra or Luit in Assamese, Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan, the Siang/Dihang River in Arunachali, and Jamuna River in Bengali.
It is the 9th largest river in the world by discharge, and the 15th longest.
It originates in the Manasarovar Lake region, near Mount Kailash, in Burang County of Tibet where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo River.
It enters India near the village of Gelling in Arunachal Pradesh and flows southwest through the Assam Valley as the Brahmaputra and south through Bangladesh as the Jamuna.

In Ganges Delta, it merges with the Ganges, popularly known as the Padma in Bangladesh, and becomes the Meghna and ultimately empties into the Bay of Bengal.

CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT & INDIA'S GEOPOLITICAL CONCERN

What major projects is China building on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet?

Yarlung Zangbo Hydropower Complex, a series of dams, with 60,000 MW capacity.

The location for this giant dam is at the "Great Bend" in Medog county, where the river makes a sharp turn.

China claims these projects generate clean energy, stimulate the economy in Tibet, and help achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.

China is also building high-speed railways and roads in Tibet and along its border regions with India.

What is China's larger goal behind these projects?

Many experts believe these projects can provide China a strategic advantage in the Himalayas, which also fit into China's Belt and Road Initiative.

By building infrastructure in disputed border areas, China might be strengthening its claims over those territories, for example, by increasing its population near the disputed border with Arunachal Pradesh.

How do China's projects affect India's water security and flow control?

India's main concern is that these dams will reduce the amount of water flowing downstream into India, especially during dry seasons, which could impact agriculture and the livelihoods of millions who depend on the Brahmaputra.

Although China contributes only about 30-35% of the Brahmaputra's total flow (with the rest coming from Indian and Bhutanese tributaries), even this portion is crucial for downstream regions.
India is concerned about its riparian rights, which are the rights of countries that share a river.

What is the "Water Bomb" risk? => Refers to the potential danger of sudden or intentional releases of water from upstream Chinese dams. This could cause massive floods in downstream Indian regions, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh's Siang region.

China provides very few details about the technical specifications of its dams, their operational plans, or emergency systems.

This secrecy makes it difficult for India to correctly evaluate the risks and prepare for potential scenarios, which hinder confidence-building measures (CBMs) and bilateral diplomacy between the two nations.

What are the ecological and environmental concerns from these projects?

Building large dams can interrupt the natural flow of nutrient-rich sediment, which is vital for agriculture in areas like Assam and Bangladesh.

Change water temperature and quality, risk aquatic biodiversity.

Building a massive dam in himalayan region, carries high risks of a dam breach (the dam breaking), landslides, and other geological hazards.

What domestic infrastructure is India building or planning to respond to this challenge?

Proposal of the Upper Siang Project, an 11.5 gigawatt (GW) dam in Arunachal Pradesh, to act as a "buffer" against potential Chinese actions upstream and to generate hydropower for India.

India engages with other downstream countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar to establish coordinated protocols and warning systems for shared rivers.

Experts suggest that India needs to:

Conduct more scientific studies to fully understand the hydrological and ecological impacts of upstream damming.
Investing in storage infrastructure on Indian tributaries of the Brahmaputra.
Manage water resources more effectively, reduce flood risks, and build "climate resilience".

What is the way forward for India?

Push for establishing formal water-sharing protocols with China, to ensure transparency and consistent data exchange.

Strengthen trans-boundary river cooperation with countries like Bhutan and Bangladesh, to build collective strength and shared warning systems.

Invest strategically in climate-resilient infrastructure within borders, such as reservoirs on tributaries, to manage water resources better.

Maintain continuous, open dialogue with China to resolve disputes and promote mutual understanding.

Must Read Articles:

CHINA'S YARLUNG TSANGPO PROJECT: IMPACT ON INDIA'S WATER

CHINA'S DAM PROJECT OPENS THE FLOODGATES OF CONCERN

Source: INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Analyze the geopolitical implications of China's mega dam projects on the Brahmaputra River for India-China relations and regional water security. 150 words

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It is a massive multi-dam project being constructed by China on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, intended to be the world's largest hydropower facility.

It is India's planned 11.5-gigawatt dam in Arunachal Pradesh on the Siang river, intended as a strategic buffer against China's upstream dams and for hydropower generation.

Building large dams in seismically active areas like Tibet increases the risk of structural failure, dam bursts, and landslides due to earthquakes, posing catastrophic threats downstream.