China’s ‘Water Bomb’ Near Arunachal Sparks Alarm: Will It Disrupt Brahmaputra Flow?

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has voiced deep concern over China's construction of a colossal dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River near the Indian border. Describing it as a "water bomb", Khandu said the dam poses a greater threat than any military action by China.

The project, worth $137 billion, was announced in 2021 and was officially greenlit in 2024. Once completed, it is expected to generate 60,000 MW of electricity over five years. The dam's proximity to Arunachal Pradesh has triggered serious environmental and geopolitical worries in India.

Why India Is Worried

The dam lies close to where the Yarlung Tsangpo enters India as the Brahmaputra. Any alteration in its flow could disrupt the livelihoods, agriculture, and water supply for millions of people in northeastern India and Bangladesh. Khandu underlined that China's reluctance to sign an international water-sharing treaty only adds to India's concerns.

"If China signed the international water treaty, it would be required to release a certain amount of water downstream. That would have addressed many fears," Khandu said.

India's Strategic Response

To counter China's move, India has proposed the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, which is expected to serve as a defensive buffer and a source of water security for the region. The project was conceived in collaboration with the central government but has seen slow progress due to local opposition.

Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil assured that India is prepared. "China can do whatever it wants; we are fully prepared. PM Modi is quite serious about it. Work will start," Patil said.

Once operational, the Upper Siang project will be India's largest hydropower station. In parallel, India also plans to strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh and explore global partnerships to manage the shared river's resources diplomatically.

China's massive dam has turned into a major strategic concern for India. With projects like Upper Siang in the pipeline, India is preparing to secure its rivers and its people, even as it faces one of the most significant hydrological challenges on its border.