A BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh has voiced serious concerns over China’s proposed construction of the “Great Bend Dam” on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, close to the India-China border in the Tibet region. The lawmaker cautioned that the project could pose significant environmental, ecological, and geopolitical risks to India, especially the northeastern states like Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Raising the issue in Parliament, the MP emphasized the potential impact on downstream water flow, agriculture, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of people in the Brahmaputra basin. The proposed dam, reportedly intended to generate massive hydropower, would be one of the largest in the world. Experts warn it could give China considerable control over water resources flowing into India, thereby turning water into a geopolitical tool.
The MP further highlighted that the project, located in a seismically active zone, could have long-term ecological consequences. Any structural failure or mismanagement could lead to devastating floods or reduced water availability for millions in India’s northeast.
Calling the move “strategic and calculated,” the MP alleged that China’s dam-building spree in the region is not just about energy generation but about asserting control and gaining leverage over India in future diplomatic or security contexts.
He urged the central government to respond diplomatically, raise the issue in international environmental and bilateral forums, and strengthen regional water monitoring systems. He also called for enhanced cooperation with neighboring countries like Bhutan and Bangladesh, which are also impacted by the Brahmaputra’s water flow.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has in the past expressed concern over similar Chinese projects and emphasized the need for transparency and data-sharing. This latest alert is expected to reignite debate over transboundary rivers and the need for robust water treaties with China.
As tensions continue along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the construction of the Great Bend Dam could add another layer to India-China bilateral challenges.
