Beijing, China: Following China's announcement of its plan to build the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, India has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its interests. The announcement, made last week, revealed China's intention to construct a massive dam in Tibet, which will surpass the size of the Three Gorges Dam—currently the largest in the world and known to have slowed the Earth's rotation by 0.06 seconds. This new project, however, will be situated in a highly sensitive environmental area in Tibet, near India's border, raising significant concerns for New Delhi.

The site, located in the Himalayan region, is geologically unstable and prone to major earthquakes due to its position in a high seismic zone. These factors, combined with the environmental impact, have sparked alarm in India, particularly regarding the potential consequences of the dam on the Brahmaputra River, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.

In response to China's announcement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement asserting that it would "protect its interests" and emphasized the country's rights to the river’s water. India also called for transparency in China's plans and expressed concerns about the broader implications of the project on both the environment and regional stability. The Ministry stated that it would monitor the situation closely and take appropriate actions if necessary.

"The government will continue to observe developments and take necessary measures to safeguard our interests," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

The construction of this dam is expected to drastically alter the flow of the Brahmaputra River, which could lead to devastating consequences such as severe droughts and floods, potentially affecting millions of people living in downstream areas in India.

At a press briefing, Jaiswal urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream nations, like India, are not negatively impacted by activities in upstream regions. He further emphasized India’s long-standing concerns over large-scale projects on rivers flowing through Chinese territory and reiterated the need for China to consult with downstream countries to ensure transparency in these ventures.

"India, as a lower riparian nation with established rights to the river's water, has raised these concerns with China both through diplomatic channels and expert-level discussions," Jaiswal added. "We will continue to call for transparency and consultation."

The proposed dam also carries geopolitical risks, potentially escalating tensions between India and China over water resources. Experts, like geopolitical strategist Genevieve Donnellon-May, have warned that such projects could lead to "water wars" between the two countries.

Details of the Proposed Dam Project

The planned dam will be the largest hydropower project in the world, located in the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) River on the eastern side of the Tibetan Plateau. The project is a key component of China's 14th Five-Year Plan, with the goal of generating 300 billion kWh of electricity annually. With an estimated cost of USD 137 billion, it will be the most expensive infrastructure project globally.

Once operational, the dam will produce more than triple the electricity generated by the Three Gorges Dam, which currently holds the record for the world's largest dam with a capacity of 88.2 billion kWh. The scale of this new dam raises concerns not only due to its size but also because of the potential displacement of people, as witnessed during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, which led to the resettlement of over 1.4 million people. However, Beijing has not provided an estimate of how many people will be affected by this new project.

The ecological impact of the dam will be significant, both in Tibet and India, as it will alter the river's course and potentially disrupt agricultural activities in the downstream regions of India.