New Delhi/Beijing: China has officially commenced work on a massive hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River—known downstream as the Brahmaputra—triggering renewed concerns in India and Bangladesh over the potential impact on water flow and ecological stability.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Yarlung Zangbo River Lower Reaches Hydropower Project, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, was attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who is also a member of the Communist Party of China’s top decision-making body, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau.
According to China’s state-run news agency Xinhua, the ambitious project involves straightening river bends and constructing tunnels to divert water.
It will feature five cascade power stations and an estimated total investment of 1.2 trillion yuan (approximately USD 167.8 billion).
While Chinese authorities claim the project is aimed at generating electricity for wider regional use while also serving local needs in Tibet (Xizang), downstream countries fear the move could disrupt water availability and ecosystems.
India, which has long expressed reservations about upstream infrastructure development by China on trans-border rivers, reiterated its concerns through diplomatic and institutional channels.
The Indian government had formally flagged the issue with Beijing on December 30 last year, urging transparency and consultation with downstream nations.
“India remains vigilant regarding all developments on the Brahmaputra and has implemented both preventive and corrective measures to protect the lives and livelihoods of its citizens in downstream regions,” Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh had told Parliament earlier this year.
He also confirmed that bilateral discussions on the matter continue under the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM)—an institutional dialogue platform set up between India and China in 2006 to address trans-boundary river issues.
The topic featured prominently during the visit of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Beijing in January, where he co-chaired the Foreign Secretary–Vice Foreign Minister Mechanism with Chinese officials.
Both sides agreed to hold an early meeting of the ELM to discuss the resumption of hydrological data sharing and broader cooperation on shared rivers.
Just this week, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also raised the matter during his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s foreign ministers’ engagement.
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Jaishankar stressed the importance of resolving border-related and other bilateral challenges while fostering mutual respect and sensitivity in the relationship.
“Confident that on the foundation of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, ties can develop along a positive trajectory,” he posted on X after the talks.
China’s decision to proceed with the mega dam comes amid continuing tensions between the two countries over border issues and water-sharing arrangements.
Experts have warned that such unilateral projects could have significant consequences for water security in northeastern India and Bangladesh, especially during dry seasons.
