China begins work on Brahmaputra Dam in Tibet, raising fears of a ‘ticking water bomb’ in India

New Delhi: China has announced the start of construction of a mega hydropower project on the Brahmaputra river that flows through Tibet, which will be the largest of its kind in the world.

The project on the Yarlung Zangbo river - as it is called in Tibet - has raised concerns in downstream countries like India and Bangladesh that rely on its waters for agriculture.

Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that construction has begun, with Premier Li Qiang making the announcement during a groundbreaking ceremony in Nyingchi City.


The agency said the $167 billion project will involve five hydroelectric plants on the river, generating more power than the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River and supplying electricity to Tibet.

India has expressed concerns over the project's impact on river flow and the ecological balance. "China has been urged to ensure that the interests of the downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas," the Ministry of External Affairs said in January.

Taking a stronger line, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu warned earlier this month that the project is a "ticking water bomb" threatening everyone living downstream.

"The issue is that China cannot be trusted. No one knows what they might do," Khandu told PTI, adding, "This is going to cause an existential threat to our tribes and our livelihoods. It is quite serious because China could even use this as a sort of water bomb."

He also pointed out that China's refusal to join any international water-sharing treaty makes the project more alarming.