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The Times of India
Fearing 'water war' by China, government puts
Arunachal dams on fast track
MANASH PRATIM GOHAIN, Jan 19, 2023
NEW DELHI: Fearing a Chinese threat of “water
wars”, India has initiated its biggest hydroelectric
project of 11,000 megawatt (MW) in Upper
Subansiri in Arunachal Pradesh. Responding to
Chinese dams coming up close to its borders in the
northeast, India is also expediting three stalled
projects for possible allocation to NHPC after
recommendations of an evaluation committee and
in principle approval by ministry of power.
According to government sources, a 60,000 MW
Chinese project on the Yarlung Zangbo
(Brahmaputra) planned at Medog on Arunachal
Pradesh’s border could be a cause for concern for
multiple reasons — scarcity of water if China
decides to divert it, floods affecting lakhs in
Arunachal Pradesh and Assam if China suddenly
releases water, as well as environmental concerns.
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For India, the Brahmaputra accounts for nearly
30% of freshwater resources and 40% of total
hydro power potential of the country. Almost 50%
of the basin of the Brahmaputra is in Chinese
territory.
Sources said India’s 2,000MW Lower Subansiri
project would be completed in the middle of this
year. The multiple hydroelectric projects, apart
from generating electricity, are expected to help
mitigate water scarcity for up to a year in case of a
Chinese diversion besides controlling flooding in
case China releases unusually high volumes.
The hydro electric projects overdrive in the north-
east, and especially in Arunachal Pradesh, which
shares its border with China, is seen as a strategic
move to counter the potential impact of Chinese
flow diversion through the dams it is constructing,
considering that 50% of the river basin of
Brahmaputra is in the Chinese territory.
“This is not a north-east issue, but a national issue.
China is planning to build a massive dam with the
capacity to generate 60,000MW of electricity on
the sacred Brahmaputra from Tibet to India. China
is planning to build this dam on Medog, which is
very close to Arunachal Pradesh. Dams are being
built with large storage capacities. Experts say that
China can also use the Medog dam as a political
tool, which could be a matter of concern for India
as well as Bangladesh, the sources said, citing
reasons why India is concerned over construction
of dams on the Himalayan River before it reaches
India.
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For India, the Brahmaputra accounts for nearly

30% of freshwater resources and 40% of total
hydro power potential of the country.

Sources say that it is a matter of concern that after

the construction of the dam, China can divert the
water of Brahmaputra. Not only this, but it can
release a lot of water through this dam at any time,
which can cause flood-like situations in Arunachal
Pradesh and Assam.

While China has dismissed all these fears at

multiple forums, it would be naïve to trust Beijing’s
claims, said a senior government official. “India too
needs its counter-contingency plans on a mission
mode, which is why the Arunachal Pradesh
projects are being expedited,” he said.

This hydro electric project is expected to mitigate

any water scarcity in Arunachal Pradesh and
Assam as well as flood hazards. Sources say that
the 11,000 MW hydroelectric project in Arunachal
Pradesh will reduce the adverse effects of the
Chinese dam. The project is also seen as significant
for the people of Arunachal Pradesh in terms of
livelihood and employment opportunities. When
the dam is built, India's capacity to store water will
increase. Sources say that after this project, the
risk of floods will also reduce considerably.

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