India is fast-tracking plans to build its own mega dam in Arunachal Pradesh after Beijing announced the construction of the world’s largest hydropower project in Tibet.
A confidential Indian government analysis, seen by Reuters, suggests that China’s $170 billion dam on the Yarlung Zangbo river—known downstream as the Siang and Brahmaputra—could cut water flow into India by as much as 85% during dry months. This poses a direct risk to more than 100 million people in India, Bangladesh, and even parts of China that depend on the river.
Delhi fears Beijing could weaponise water flows by diverting or suddenly releasing torrents downstream, worsening floods. In response, India is pushing forward the Upper Siang Multipurpose Storage Dam, which could become its largest hydropower project. The dam would have a storage capacity of 14 billion cubic meters (BCM), helping India release water during lean seasons and absorb sudden surges from China.
But the plan faces stiff opposition from locals. Communities from Arunachal’s Adi tribe, who depend on fertile valleys for paddy, citrus, and cardamom farming, warn their villages and livelihoods will be submerged. Protests have already disrupted survey work, with angry villagers destroying equipment and blocking dam officials.
Despite resistance, India’s central and state governments insist the project is vital for water security, flood control, and countering China’s strategic leverage. The Modi government is also preparing compensation packages and resettlement plans for thousands who will be displaced.
Experts caution, however, that both Chinese and Indian dams are being built in a highly seismic Himalayan zone, where extreme weather and earthquakes could turn mega projects into risks themselves.
With China expecting its dam to begin generating power by the early-to-mid 2030s, India is racing against time to safeguard its downstream states and industries.
