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General Studies 2 >> International Relations

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CHINA'S MEGA DAM PROJECT

CHINA'S MEGA DAM PROJECT

 
 
1. Context
 
The ambitious plan to build a mega-hydropower dam across the Brahmaputra at the Great Bend region of the Medog county in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) in China, has been in the drawing boards of Chinese hydrocracy for decades. The clearest signalling to this effect happened in 2020 when this project was included in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan. Its approval was granted on December 25, 2024. India, Bhutan and Bangladesh will have serious downstream implications of this 60 GW hyper-dam built upstream by China
 
2. What is this Mega-dam project?
 
  • The Brahmaputra River is a transboundary watercourse that flows through four countries, with each nation holding different positions along its course. China, the uppermost riparian country, is the source of the river, where it originates in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) under the name Yarlung Zangbo, also referred to as the Tsangpo.
  • India and Bhutan are positioned as middle riparian countries, with Bhutan situated to the northeast and India further south. Bangladesh, the lowermost riparian nation, marks the river's final stretch before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.
  • Each of these riparian nations has initiated or planned substantial water management projects within the Brahmaputra basin. These include hydropower dams, designed to harness the river's energy for electricity generation, as well as embankments and irrigation dams meant to control flooding and enhance agricultural productivity.
  • Additionally, several barrages are planned or constructed to regulate water flow for irrigation and flood management purposes.
  • The river, serving as a vital resource for all the countries it passes through, thus plays a crucial role in their respective water infrastructure and development strategies. However, these projects also raise concerns about the river's flow, its seasonal variations, and the potential for inter-country disputes over water-sharing rights
 
3. Bramhaputra as a transboundary river
 
  • Transboundary river systems are often viewed by nation-states as control points, akin to "taps," which they believe can be turned on or off through hydraulic projects like dams within their borders.
  • The Brahmaputra River, in particular, has become a focal point for major dam projects being developed by China, India, and Bhutan, leading to heightened geopolitical competition and power struggles in the region.
  • Large-scale dams on transboundary rivers are often regarded as symbols of national sovereignty, representing a country’s control over natural resources and landscapes. This has given rise to dramatic terminology like "water wars," as tensions mount over shared water resources.
  • For downstream nations, hydropower projects initiated upstream are often perceived as "water bombs," with the potential to disrupt water flow and harm ecosystems.
  • China, positioned at the uppermost point of the Brahmaputra basin, exercises significant control over Tibet’s rivers, holding substantial political, technological, and material advantages to carry out extensive hydropower developments unilaterally.
  • China's hydropower sector, which operates under the strong backing of its government, has advanced several large-scale projects, including the iconic Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River and the Zangmu Dam on the Yarlung Zangbo, which was completed in 2015.
  • These dams are seen not only as important infrastructure projects but also as state symbols, reinforcing China's authority over its natural resources and asserting its geopolitical power.
  • These initiatives have raised concerns among downstream nations about the downstream impacts of such massive hydropower developments on their water security, environmental sustainability, and regional cooperation
 
Rehabilitation for Communities along the Bramhaputra river
 
  • The communities living along the Brahmaputra River have historically adapted to the river’s natural cycles of flow, erosion, and deposition, using their traditional knowledge to navigate the river’s changing landscape.
  • However, with the advent of large-scale hydropower projects by China, India, and Bhutan, these communities can no longer rely on their traditional understanding of the river. The introduction of mega-dams has altered the river’s natural patterns, and the frequency and severity of natural disasters have intensified, leaving local populations vulnerable and less able to predict or manage environmental changes.
  • Communities located both upstream in Tibet and downstream in India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh now live under the looming presence of these massive hydropower dams, which have significant adverse impacts on their lands and ways of life. The flow of the Brahmaputra River in the downstream regions of India and Bangladesh is directly dependent on the flow of the Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet.
  • If China proceeds with plans to build a massive hydropower dam at the Great Bend, the natural flow of water from this river could be significantly disrupted. Such an action would have severe consequences, potentially leading to a drastic reduction in surface water levels, altered monsoon patterns, and disruptions to groundwater systems in the region.
  • The ramifications of this disruption would be particularly devastating for downstream agrarian communities, whose agricultural practices rely on consistent river flow for irrigation.
  • Furthermore, the ecological integrity of the entire Himalayan bioregion could be compromised, with potential long-term impacts on biodiversity, local ecosystems, and the livelihoods of those who depend on the river for sustenance and economic activity. The ongoing development of hydropower dams threatens to reshape the natural environment and the traditional ways of life that have coexisted with the river for centuries 
 
 
4. Conflict regarding hydropower bridge between India and China
 
  • There is an ongoing tension between China and India over the Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra river system. China has announced plans for its largest hydropower project at the Great Bend, while India is pursuing its own significant dam project at Upper Siang.
  • Bhutan, too, has been building several smaller to medium-sized dams along the river, raising concerns among downstream countries like India and Bangladesh, who fear the potential negative impacts on water availability and local ecosystems.
  • Despite these developments, none of the countries sharing the Brahmaputra basin have signed the 2014 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses. This means that rights to the river's resources, particularly for upstream and downstream usage, are not legally enforceable.
  • Since 2006, China and India have maintained an Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) to address outstanding issues and exchange hydrological data related to the river. However, there is no comprehensive bilateral treaty between them that governs the management and use of shared transboundary rivers.
  • The geopolitical tensions between China and India, especially concerning their unresolved land boundary dispute, have added a layer of security concerns to the management of the Brahmaputra basin. Both nations have used the river basin as a strategic platform for asserting their influence and engaging in power plays.
  • In light of these tensions, adopting a bioregional or ecoregional approach to the protection of the Himalayas and the broader river system could help alleviate the security-focused narratives surrounding the Brahmaputra basin.
  • Such an approach would emphasize regional cooperation and the shared ecological value of the river, encouraging the riparian nations to work together in a less adversarial manner and prioritize environmental sustainability over political rivalry. This shift in focus could help reduce militarization and foster a more collaborative and peaceful management of the river's resources
 
 
5. Way Forward
 
Tibet’s river systems play a crucial role in the Earth's cryosphere, which includes permafrost and glaciers, and are integral to major climate systems, including those that influence precipitation and the monsoon. These river systems are not only vital for the environment but also for regulating climatic patterns in the region. However, with the increasing impact of climate change, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) have become more frequent in the Himalayas. A tragic example of such an event occurred in October 2023, when the collapse of the Chungthang Dam in Sikkim caused extensive destruction to life and property in downstream communities. The construction of dams across the Himalayan region is an effort to assert control over these river systems, disrupting their natural cycles and processes. This alteration impacts the agro-pastoral communities that rely on these ecosystems, as well as the biodiversity within the rivers and wetlands. If all the dams currently planned for the Brahmaputra river basin are completed, the region is likely to face a growing series of risks, turning it into an active "risk-scape."
 
 
For Prelims: Brahmaputra river and tributaries
 
For Mains: GS I, GS II - World Geography, International border issues
 
 
Source: The Hindu

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