China has begun constructing what will be the world’s largest hydropower dam in Tibetan territory, sparking concerns from India and Bangladesh about its potential impact on millions of people living downriver. The $167 billion project is expected to generate three times more energy than the current Three Gorges dam when completed.
The 1.2 trillion yuan project prioritizes ecological protection and boosting local prosperity for Tibetans, but experts warn it could give China control over the Yarlung Tsangpo river, which flows into India’s Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states, as well as Bangladesh. The river’s sudden release of water could cause devastating effects on tribes in India’s Siang belt.
India plans to build a hydropower dam on the Siang river to act as a buffer against sudden releases from China’s dam and prevent flooding in their areas. Bangladesh has also expressed concerns about the project, requesting more information from China.
The construction of the Motuo Hydropower Station will overtake the Three Gorges dam as the world’s largest, with China aiming to generate clean energy while uplifting rural Tibetans. However, activists say the dams are an example of Beijing’s exploitation of Tibetans and their land, leading to past protests that were violently suppressed.
The project has also raised concerns about environmental damage from flooding Tibetan valleys renowned for their biodiversity and the potential dangers of building dams in a region with high earthquake fault lines.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gk1251w14o