China has begun building what will be the world’s biggest hydropower dam in Tibet, triggering concerns in India and Bangladesh. The project is being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which flows into India and Bangladesh as the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers.
The dam, named the Motuo Hydropower Station, is expected to generate three times more energy than China’s current largest dam, the Three Gorges. It’s estimated to cost 1.2 trillion yuan ($167 billion). Chinese authorities say the project will protect the environment and help local development.
However, India fears the dam could give China control over vital water supplies. Experts warn China could use the dam to control or block water flow to downstream regions. Officials in India’s Arunachal Pradesh have warned that sudden water releases could cause major floods and threaten the lives of local communities, including indigenous tribes.
India has asked China to be transparent and to consult with affected countries. Bangladesh has also contacted China to get more details about the dam’s impact.
The dam is being built in a deep canyon where the river takes a sharp U-turn, dropping hundreds of meters. Chinese engineers plan to dig long tunnels through the mountains to divert water and build five hydropower stations.
This project is part of China’s push to transfer electricity from the west to the energy-hungry eastern cities. While China says the project will benefit Tibet, activists argue it will harm local communities and the environment. Past protests against similar projects in Tibet have been met with arrests and violence.
There are also environmental risks, including biodiversity loss and the danger of earthquakes, as the region lies on active fault lines
Read more: Hydropower Dam in Tibet
