China’s Mega Dam a ‘Water Bomb’ Threat to India, Warns Arunachal CM
Arunachal CM warns China’s Yarlung Tsangpo dam threatens India’s northeast, pushes counter-project for water security.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has sounded the alarm on China’s massive Yarlung Tsangpo dam project, calling it a potential “water bomb” that poses an existential threat to India’s northeastern states. In an exclusive interview with PTI Videos on Tuesday, Khandu expressed deep concern over the $137 billion hydropower project on the Brahmaputra River near the Arunachal border, warning of catastrophic consequences for local tribes and ecosystems.
“China cannot be trusted,” Khandu said, noting that China’s refusal to sign international water-sharing treaties leaves downstream nations vulnerable. “This dam is a bigger threat than military issues. It could destroy lives, land, and livelihoods, especially for our Adi tribe.”
Approved in 2024, the dam is set to generate 60,000 MW, making it the world’s largest hydropower project. Without treaty obligations, China could disrupt water flow, risking severe flooding or drought in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Bangladesh. “If they release water suddenly, our Siang belt would be devastated,” Khandu warned.
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To counter this, Arunachal’s government is advancing the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project as a defensive measure to ensure water security. “If China’s dam dries up our rivers, our project will help us manage,” Khandu said, emphasizing proactive steps over futile protests. He plans to meet local tribes soon to raise awareness.
As China’s secretive project progresses in the Himalayan gorge, India is racing to safeguard its water future against an unpredictable neighbor.
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