Gaurav Gogoi sounds alarm over China’s mega dam in Tibet, warns of threat to Brahmaputra

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 11, 2025

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has raised serious concerns over China’s plan to construct the world’s largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, warning that it poses a major risk to India’s water security and the Brahmaputra River.

Speaking during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Gogoi said that he has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar regarding China’s “disproportionate control” over the river’s water flow. He stressed that the Brahmaputra is Assam’s lifeline and a strategic asset for India, making China’s unilateral dam construction a cause for serious concern.

Gogoi urged the Indian government to make water-sharing agreements a key component of diplomatic discussions with China, particularly at the level of the Prime Minister, the National Security Adviser (NSA), and the MEA.

“We must ensure that China shares hydrological data necessary for flood forecasting and river management. My question is, did the government know about this dam, and what has been done to raise this issue at the international level?” he questioned.

The Union Government confirmed in Parliament on February 6 that it has taken note of China’s announcement regarding the mega-dam project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response to Rajya Sabha, stated that trans-border river issues are discussed with China through an institutionalized Expert Level Mechanism, established in 2006, as well as via diplomatic channels.

“As a lower riparian state, India has consistently conveyed its concerns to China and urged them to ensure that downstream interests are not harmed,” Singh said.

Following China’s December 30, 2024, announcement of the dam project, India formally raised its concerns and issued a démarche demanding transparency and consultation with downstream countries.

The issue was also discussed during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Beijing, where both countries agreed to resume hydrological data-sharing and hold an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism to address trans-border river cooperation.

With China’s hydropower ambitions growing in Tibet, India faces a crucial challenge in securing its water resources, ensuring sustainable river management, and protecting the Brahmaputra’s ecological balance.