Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has raised alarm over China’s plan to construct the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which flows into India as the Brahmaputra. In a letter addressed to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Gogoi emphasized the critical national security and water security challenges posed by this development, particularly for Assam and other northeastern states. The hydropower project, approved by China on December 25, has sparked fears of strategic control over the Brahmaputra’s water flow. Gogoi warned that China could manipulate the river’s flow, intensifying seasonal floods in Assam while creating water shortages during drier months. “The potential for such manipulation puts millions of lives and livelihoods at risk,” Gogoi wrote.
Recalling the Doklam standoff of 2017, the Congress MP noted that China had then halted the sharing of hydrological data on the Brahmaputra, jeopardizing disaster preparedness in downstream regions. He stressed that the new dam could further exacerbate such vulnerabilities. Gogoi urged the Defence Ministry to thoroughly assess the dam’s strategic implications and strengthen coordination with regional security forces. He also advocated for diplomatic engagement with neighboring countries like Bangladesh, which also depends on the Brahmaputra for its water needs. The letter reflects growing apprehensions over China’s aggressive infrastructure expansion in Tibet and its potential to destabilize the ecological and geopolitical balance in South Asia. “India must act decisively to protect its water resources and safeguard the interests of its northeastern states,” Gogoi stated.
Experts have echoed similar concerns, highlighting the risks posed by large-scale water infrastructure projects in transboundary rivers. They argue for stronger international cooperation to address the challenges of shared water resources.