Impacts of China’s Mega-Dam Project

Source: The post Impacts of China’s Mega-Dam Project has been created, based on the article “Implications of China’s mega-dam project ” published in “The Hindu” on 6th January 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper- 2- International relations

Context: The article delves into the geopolitical, ecological, and socio-economic implications of China’s ambitious mega-dam project on the Brahmaputra River, highlighting its potential impacts on downstream nations like India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The proposed 60 GW hydropower project in the Great Bend region of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) signals China’s intent to assert dominance over the Brahmaputra basin, a critical transboundary river system originating in Tibet and flowing through multiple riparian countries before draining into the Bay of Bengal. Impacts of China’s Mega-Dam Project

What is China’s mega-dam project, and where is it located?

1. Project Overview: China plans to build a 60 GW mega-hydropower dam in the Great Bend region of Medog county in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). This project was included in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2020) and approved on December 25, 2024.
2. Location: The Brahmaputra River, known as the Yarlung Zangbo in TAR, is a transboundary river spanning China, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The dam is situated at the Great Bend, where the river turns southward to enter India.

Do all riparian countries have water infrastructure projects in the Brahmaputra basin?

1. Yes, all riparian nations (China, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh) have major water infrastructure projects, including hydropower dams, embankments, irrigation systems, and barrages.
2. China: Three Gorges Dam, Zangmu Dam (commissioned in 2015), and the planned Medog mega-dam.
3. India: Upper Siang dam, its largest hydropower project.
4. Bhutan: Multiple medium and small dams, raising concerns in downstream India and Bangladesh.

How are nation-states controlling the Brahmaputra river system?

1. Geopolitical Control: Countries view transboundary rivers as resources to be controlled through dams and hydraulic infrastructure, symbolizing sovereignty.
2. “Water Wars” Vocabulary: Terms like “water wars” and “water bombs” reflect tensions between upstream and downstream nations. For example, China’s mega-dam is seen as a “water bomb” by India and Bangladesh.
3. China’s Strategy: As the upper riparian nation, China has complete control over Tibet’s rivers, leveraging its technological and material capabilities.

What are the risks for communities along the Brahmaputra river basin?

1. Disruption of Traditional Knowledge: Dams disrupt the natural flow of rivers, rendering communities’ traditional knowledge ineffective.
2. Adverse Impacts:
   • Blocking the Yarlung Zangbo’s perennial flow could reduce surface water levels, disrupt monsoon patterns, and harm groundwater systems.
   • Downstream agrarian communities and the Himalayan ecosystem face catastrophic risks.
   • Increased disasters such as floods affect traditional lands, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

What explains the hydropower dam-building race?

1. Geopolitical Rivalry: China’s Great Bend project and India’s Upper Siang project exemplify strategic competition.
2. Lack of Agreements: None of the riparian nations are signatories to the 2014 UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, making water-sharing agreements unenforceable.
3. Bilateral Efforts: India and China have an Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) since 2006 to share hydrological data but lack a comprehensive treaty on shared rivers.
4. Securitization: Territorial disputes between China and India exacerbate tensions over the Brahmaputra basin.

Why are Tibet’s river systems critical to the Himalayan bioregion?

• Cryosphere Significance: Tibet’s rivers, fed by glaciers and permafrost, are vital to the Earth’s climate systems, including monsoons and precipitation pathways.
• Climate Change Impacts:
  • Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) are increasing, as seen in the 2023 Chungthang Dam collapse in Sikkim.
  • Mega-dams threaten biodiversity, agro-pastoral communities, and river ecosystems.

What historical and ecological risks are associated with the Medog dam?

• Seismic Risks: The site of the Medog dam is prone to earthquakes. The 1950 Assam-Tibet earthquake, one of the most significant in modern history, caused widespread destruction downstream in Assam and Bangladesh.
• Flooding: Annual catastrophic floods are a persistent challenge in the region, worsened by man-made interventions.

What are the broader implications of mega-dams in the region?

• Ecological and Social Impact:
  • Dams disrupt the natural life cycles of rivers, turning the Himalayan river basin into an active risk-scape.
  • Agro-pastoral communities and the Himalayan bioregion face significant threats from these projects.

How should riparian nations address these challenges?

• Alternative Approaches:
  • A bioregional/ecoregional framework could help desecuritize the Brahmaputra river basin and protect its ecology.
  • India could assume a leadership role by adopting sustainable water management practices instead of mirroring China’s dam-building strategy.
• Strategic Recommendation: Avoid “a dam for a dam” approach to prevent turning the Himalayan river systems into disaster zones.