New Delhi: India has expressed serious concern over China’s construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, close to the Arunachal Pradesh border. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu described the project as a “ticking time bomb,” warning that it poses a more serious threat than conventional military aggression. The dam, being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo (as the Brahmaputra is known in Tibet), is located just 30 kilometres from the India-China border.
Khandu cautioned that the dam grants China significant control over the river’s flow, with potential downstream consequences for northeastern Indian states. He warned that in the event of sudden water release during the monsoon, regions such as the Siang belt in Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam could face severe flooding, leading to widespread displacement. There are also fears that the project could reduce water availability in the Siang and Brahmaputra rivers, impacting agriculture and livelihoods.
VIDEO | EXCLUSIVE: China's mega dam being built near the Arunachal Pradesh border will be a ticking "water bomb," an existential threat more dangerous than its military, the state's chief minister Pema Khandu (@PemaKhanduBJP) has said.
Speaking to PTI Editor-in-Chief Vijay… pic.twitter.com/0LhctGNnIN
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 9, 2025
India’s concerns are further amplified by China’s refusal to sign international water-sharing treaties and its lack of transparency regarding the project’s design and reservoir capacity. Experts have raised alarms over the dam’s location in a seismically active region, warning of catastrophic consequences if the structure were to fail. In response, India is reportedly exploring plans to develop a dam project of its own in Arunachal Pradesh to strengthen flood control and water resource management.