India Raises Concerns Over China’s Proposed Brahmaputra Mega Dam and Territorial Claims

India has expressed strong concerns over China’s announcement of a mega hydropower dam project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, which flows into India as the Brahmaputra. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated its demand for transparency and consultation, citing potential downstream impacts on millions in India and Bangladesh.

The proposed dam, which could surpass the scale of China’s Three Gorges Dam, was linked by Beijing to its carbon neutrality and regional economic development goals. However, India has voiced apprehensions over ecological and geopolitical ramifications.

India’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, emphasized New Delhi’s established rights to the Brahmaputra waters and expressed concerns over unilateral mega projects. “We have consistently conveyed our views and concerns through expert and diplomatic channels,” Jaiswal said.

He added that the Chinese government has been urged to ensure that activities upstream do not harm downstream interests, while India continues to monitor developments and take protective measures.

China’s Foreign Ministry has claimed the dam project is focused on clean energy development and mitigating climate change. Spokesperson Mao Ning assured that the project “will not negatively affect the lower reaches” and maintained that Beijing remains open to communication with riparian nations.

Environmentalists have warned of irreversible impacts on the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. The planned dam site lies in a gorge where the Brahmaputra makes a sharp U-turn near Arunachal Pradesh, a region already sensitive due to its ecological and geopolitical significance.

India also responded sharply to China’s recent administrative moves, including the creation of two new counties in the Hotan Prefecture, parts of which overlap India’s Union Territory of Ladakh.

The MEA dismissed the legitimacy of China’s actions, asserting that India does not recognize Beijing’s “illegal and forcible occupation” of these territories. “Creation of new counties will neither affect India’s sovereignty claims nor lend legitimacy to China’s occupation,” the ministry stated, confirming a formal diplomatic protest has been lodged.

The developments come amid renewed India-China boundary talks after a five-year hiatus. The planned dam, with an estimated cost of $137 billion, has raised alarm over potential ecological and water security risks for downstream states like Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

India continues to call for collaborative and transparent measures to address shared water resource challenges, while closely monitoring China’s activities in the region.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *