Key facts
- China building mega dam on Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) in Tibet
- River flows into Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in northeast India
- India fears China could weaponise upstream water control
- Millions in Assam depend on Brahmaputra for farming and drinking water
NDTV reports that China's construction of a new mega dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet is raising serious concerns in India, with analysts warning that the project gives Beijing unprecedented control over a river that is a lifeline for northeast India.
The Brahmaputra, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, originates on the Tibetan plateau before flowing into Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, where it supports agriculture, fishing and the daily water needs of millions of people. China's dam, reportedly one of the largest hydropower projects ever attempted, would sit far upstream, giving China the ability to regulate water flows into Indian territory.
India's concerns are both strategic and humanitarian. During periods of military or diplomatic tension — such as the 2017 Doklam standoff or the 2020 Galwan clashes — critics have warned that China could use water as leverage. Downstream flooding caused by sudden releases, or reduced flows during dry seasons, could devastate crops and communities in Assam. The dam also adds to a broader pattern of Chinese infrastructure development along the disputed Himalayan frontier that India views with deep strategic unease.