Brahmaputra Dam Project: China has given green light to the development of the biggest dam in world said to be the biggest on the world on the Brahmaputra river in the territory of Tibet along the Indian border.
Although valued at $137billion, the mega infrastructure concern has drawn concern downstream in India and Bangladesh as it may disrupt water flow regime and stability.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday that the Chinese government has approved the construction of hydropower station on the lower segment of the Yarlung Zangbo River or the Tibetan name of the Brahmaputra River.
The total investment it may reach one trillion yuan or $137 billion which will precipitate it as the largest infrastructure undertaking in the whole world outdoing even China’s Three Gorges Dam, according to the Hong Kong based South China Morning Post.
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Where Brahmaputra Dam China India Project Will be Built?
Brahmaputra Dam China India Project: The dam is expected to be built on a huge gorge in the Himalayas with the Brahmaputra river making a horseshit turn before the Arunachal Pradesh and Bangladesh boarder.
What type of effect does the Brahmaputra Dam Project have on the part of India?
Brahmaputra Dam China India Project: India has expressed its concern over the project because not only does the dam enable China to regulate the water in the river but can also potentially flood areas across the border with large volumes by holding and releasing water during times of conflict because of the size of the dam, according to news agency PTI.
India is also building its own dam on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh map. In June 2006 year, both nations agreed on the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) to solve different aspects of trans-border river issues, within the deal China shares hydrological data of the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers in the flood periods.
Talks on data sharing over such rivers have come up between the Indian NSA, Ajit Doval, and the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in the Special Representatives’ meeting of December 18.
Ministry of external affairs explained that the SRs given to other countries “Offered positive directions for cross-border interaction and exchange” including exchange of data on inter-basino rivers.
What are the Challenges of Constructions in Brahmaputra Dam Project?
Brahmaputra Dam Project: Alternatively the construction of the Brahmaputra dam is no easy task as it is situated on a tectonic zone sensitive to earthquakes. Tibetan plateau is also vulnerable to frequent earthquakes due to its’ position on the tectonic plates.
Through the Tibetan Plateau especially along the Yarlung Tsangpo River it cuts the world’s deepest canyon with a trench of 7608 meters before it initially enters India, the Post said.
The construction site is in the mainland of China’s region with highest rainfall guaranteeing adequate water flow.
‘Yarlung Tsangpo is relatively very rich in hydropower’,
In the morning, the authorities responded to earthquake issues naming the project as harmless to hydropower and environmentally friendly.
The statement underlined that having conducted wide and deep explorations of the geological substrate and having advanced the technologies necessary for organic, scientifically grounded, safe, and high-quality construction, the science of the project can guarantee a solid foundation for the undertaking’s success.
The Yarlung Tsangpo location which is described by Yan Zhiyong, the former chairman of Power Construction Corporation of china earlier this year 2020 as abundant with the hydropower potential.
“It also consists of a stretch lower reaches area – vertical drop 2,000meters over distance 50 km, it has 70 Million kilowatts of potential resources that may be harnessed – that’s over and above three Three Gorges Dam with a rated generating capacity of 22.5 Million kilowatts,” the Post further quoted.
The hydro power shall generate electricity for 300 million.
A forecast for 2023 shows that the hydropower facility will generate more than 300 billion kWh of electricity per year, which is enough for 300 million people per year.
To harness the potential of hydropower of the river, four to six tunnels of about 20 km each through Namcha Barwa will be needed to divert about 2000 cusecs of the flow of the river half, said the report, as reported by news agency PTI.
Yan stressed when explaining why the hydropower development in the lower section of Yarlung Zangbo River is beyond the energy issue. Economically it is important to the environment, security, quality of life, energy and international cooperation.
“It is a project for national security, including the water resources and domestic security,” he said, adding that the project will facilitate further cooperation with South Asia. He said that the hydropower station could bring 20 billion yuan of revenue for the Tibet Autonomous Region per year.
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