India is closely monitoring China’s ambitions to use the Brahmaputra River for hydroelectric projects, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan told the Rajya Sabha in a written response. He explained that the Indian government closely monitors the situation and implements the necessary preventive and corrective actions to protect the lives and livelihoods of those residing in the downstream areas. It is anticipated that the Chinese dam on Tibet’s Yarlung Tsangpo River will generate 300 billion kWh of electricity annually.
However, its effects on water and biodiversity in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have been questioned. On December 30, 2024, India expressed its concerns to China, emphasizing the need for greater transparency and collaboration with downstream nations. When the Foreign Secretary visited Beijing for the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism meeting on January 26–27, 2025, India reiterated similar concerns. In order to discuss the resumption of hydrological data exchange and other cooperation on transboundary rivers, both countries agreed to hold an early Expert Level Mechanism conference.
In order to protect its interests on this crucial topic, the Indian government is still interacting with China. In Arunachal Pradesh, India is building a 10 GW hydropower facility to counteract the potential consequences of China’s project. Enhancing water security, controlling flooding, and promoting regional economic development are all goals of the project. India wants to safeguard its strategic and ecological interests in the Brahmaputra basin by taking the initiative to counter China’s hydropower aspirations.
