Implications of China’s mega-dam project

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)

Impact of the Dam

• Mega-dams are seen as tools for asserting sovereignty, with upstream countries like China using them to control natural resources.
• The proposed Medog dam could disrupt the natural flow of the Brahmaputra, which is crucial for agriculture and ecosystems downstream.
• The blocking of water for hydropower generation may impact surface water levels, monsoon patterns, groundwater systems, and agriculture in India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

Hydropower Competition

• China and India are competing with major hydropower projects, such as the Great Bend Dam in China and the Upper Siang Dam in India.
• Bhutan also has smaller dams, raising concerns about downstream impacts.
• The lack of a comprehensive treaty on shared rivers, coupled with unresolved territorial disputes, heightens the geopolitical tensions in the region.

Community Risks

• Local communities along the Brahmaputra river, both upstream and downstream, rely on traditional knowledge of the river’s cycles.
• Mega-dams threaten this knowledge and exacerbate disaster risks, impacting agriculture, biodiversity, and the sensitive Himalayan ecology.

Climate Change and Natural Disasters

• The Himalayas play a key role in global climate systems, regulating monsoons and glacier dynamics.
• Climate change is increasing Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), as seen with the 2023 Chungthang Dam collapse in Sikkim.
• Dams disrupt natural cycles, affecting ecosystems, communities, and the water system.

Historical Context

• The 1950 Medog Earthquake had severe downstream effects, causing floods in Assam and Bangladesh, highlighting the region’s vulnerability.

Conclusion

• The Medog dam could exacerbate geopolitical tensions and environmental risks, urging a cooperative, sustainable approach to managing the Brahmaputra’s resources.

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