What’s in today’s article?
- Why in News?
- Yarlung Tsangpo Project
- Specific concerns for India
- Existing coordination mechanism on transboundary rivers between India and China
- Options available to India
Why in News?
China has approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet, with a capacity of 60,000 MW, three times that of the Three Gorges Dam.
The river flows into Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang, into Assam as the Brahmaputra, and then into Bangladesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal.
The project is expected to have a significant impact on the livelihoods, ecology, and water availability for millions downstream.
India has consistently expressed concerns to China about such projects, emphasizing the need for transparency and consultation to protect downstream states’ interests.
Yarlung Tsangpo Project
- About
- The Yarlung Tsangpo hydropower project is set to be the world’s largest hydropower project, planned at the “Great Bend” of the river in Medog county, Tibet, where it makes a U-turn before entering Arunachal Pradesh.
- The project is part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).
- Location and Planning Stage
- According to experts, the project’s location has been strategically chosen. Recent activities, including funding allocation, construction of smaller dams, and changes in upstream land use, suggest the project is in an advanced planning phase, with visible construction expected soon.
- China’s Goals for the Yarlung Tsangpo Project
- China aims to use the Yarlung Tsangpo project to reduce reliance on conventional energy sources and achieve net carbon neutrality by 2060.
- The river’s steep descent from the mountains provides an ideal flow rate for hydroelectricity generation, making it a prime location for such a mega project.
- Scale of China’s Dams and Environmental Concerns
- China’s recent dams, including the Three Gorges Dam, highlight the massive scale of its hydropower ambitions.
- However, these projects have raised significant environmental concerns.
- The Three Gorges Dam, for instance, has altered gravity anomaly maps due to the immense weight of stored water, caused severe ecological impacts, and even triggered earthquakes.
- Additionally, over a million people were displaced due to changes in river morphology.
- The Yarlung Tsangpo project could replicate these environmental and social risks on a larger scale, posing significant challenges for downstream regions.
Specific concerns for India
- Impact on Water Flow to India
- The proposed dam could significantly affect water flow from China to India, a lower riparian state, as most of the water in the Brahmaputra system originates in Tibet.
- Any alteration in water flow could disrupt agriculture and water availability in India.
- Interruption of Silt and Biodiversity
- Large dams often block the flow of silt, essential for agriculture, and cause changes in river flow, adversely affecting local biodiversity.
- These disruptions could have long-term ecological and agricultural consequences for the region.
- Earthquake-Prone and Fragile Ecology
- The region is one of the most ecologically fragile and earthquake-prone areas in the world.
- A large dam in this zone increases the risk of catastrophic events.
- For instance, the 2004 Parechu Lake landslide in Tibet, which later burst in 2005, highlights the dangers of water accumulation in unstable regions, despite timely coordination to mitigate damage.
- Need for Coordination and Concerns Over Cooperation
- Effective coordination and real-time exchange of information between countries are crucial to prevent disasters.
- However, China has shown reluctance to cooperate with lower riparian states like India.
- Similar concerns have been observed in the Mekong river basin, where China’s 12 large dams have negatively impacted downstream nations.
Existing coordination mechanism on transboundary rivers between India and China
- India and China have several agreements for cooperation on transboundary rivers:
- Umbrella MoU (2013): Covers overall cooperation on transboundary rivers and has no expiry date. However, no activity is currently being undertaken under this agreement.
- Brahmaputra MoU: Signed for data sharing and renewable every five years. It lapsed in 2023, and its renewal is under process via diplomatic channels.
- Sutlej MoU: Initiated after the 2004 Parechu Lake incident but does not provide year-round data. This MoU is also pending renewal.
- Expert Level Mechanism (2006)
- This mechanism facilitates annual meetings between India and China to discuss transboundary river issues.
- However, interruptions have occurred in recent years.
- Challenges in Cooperation
- China has been reluctant to share data consistently, with interruptions noted during the 2017 Doklam crisis and the 2020 Ladakh standoff.
- International Framework
- While neither India nor China is a signatory to the 1997 UN Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, both countries abide by its key principles.
- These include equitable and reasonable water use and ensuring that actions of one country do not significantly harm another.
- Need for Enhanced Cooperation
- Given the limited avenues of coordination and the potential risks posed by mega projects like the Yarlung Tsangpo dam, robust mechanisms and renewed agreements are critical for preventing disputes and ensuring regional stability.
Options available to India
- Limited Scope of Understanding
- India and China have a narrow and limited understanding when it comes to transboundary river issues.
- China has been unwilling to agree to any commitments that could address India’s concerns comprehensively.
- China’s Standard Response
- China often claims its hydropower projects are run-of-the-river, implying minimal water impounding and limited downstream impact.
- However, India views these assertions sceptically.
- India’s Need for Public Challenges
- India must challenge China’s statements, including the recent claim that the Tsangpo mega dam would have no downstream impacts.
- Without publicly countering such narratives, these projects could become faits accomplish, creating long-term challenges for India.
- Honest Dialogue and Dissuasion
- India should push for an honest dialogue with China and attempt to dissuade them from pursuing large-scale projects like the Tsangpo mega dam.
- Elevating Water as a Key Issue
- Water-related concerns should become a significant focus in India’s engagement with China.
- India needs to clearly convey that disregarding its interests and concerns will negatively impact bilateral relations.
Q.1. What impact could the Yarlung Tsangpo dam have on India?
The dam could disrupt water flow from Tibet, affecting agriculture and water availability in India, especially in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It may also interrupt silt flow, harming agriculture, and pose ecological risks due to the fragile and earthquake-prone region.
Q.2. How does India currently coordinate with China on transboundary rivers?
India and China have agreements such as the Umbrella MoU and Brahmaputra MoU, focusing on data sharing and cooperation. However, there have been challenges in consistent cooperation, with data-sharing disruptions during tensions like the 2017 Doklam and 2020 Ladakh standoff.
Last updated on Dec 26, 2024
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