By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: China has commenced construction of what is expected to become the world’s largest hydroelectric project on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet. This development has renewed concerns in India over water security and ecological risks in the downstream Brahmaputra basin.
The massive dam project, located close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, is being built on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo, a river that flows into India as the Siang before merging into the Brahmaputra. The project is expected to generate around 60,000 MW of electricity, making it one of the most ambitious hydropower ventures ever undertaken.
Amid growing concerns over the potential impact of the Chinese project, India is moving ahead with plans for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh. The proposed 11,000 MW project, to be developed by NHPC, is envisioned as the country’s largest hydropower facility and is expected to serve both power generation and flood-management purposes.
Planned across the Upper Siang and Siang districts, the project is estimated to produce nearly 47 billion units of electricity annually. The investment required for the venture is projected at around Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
However, the two projects are at very different stages. While construction activity has already begun on the Chinese side, India’s project remains in the planning phase, with studies and assessments still underway before work can begin on the ground.
The development has heightened strategic concerns in New Delhi, given the significance of the Brahmaputra river system for millions of people living in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Experts have cautioned that large-scale infrastructure on the upper reaches of the river could influence downstream water availability, sediment flow and ecological balance, with possible implications for agriculture and flood patterns.
Responding to concerns raised in Parliament, the Centre recently stated that it is closely tracking developments related to hydropower projects in the Brahmaputra basin. The government said it remains engaged on issues concerning transboundary rivers and continues to seek greater transparency and information-sharing from China regarding upstream activities.
Officials have also underlined the importance of strengthening India’s flood forecasting capabilities, river monitoring mechanisms and disaster preparedness systems across the Northeast.
Beyond its power-generation potential, the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project is being viewed as a strategic infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing water management and mitigating risks associated with upstream interventions on one of the region’s most important river systems.