China’s mega dam poses a ‘water bomb’ threat to India

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu expresses grave concern

Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) – The world’s largest dam being constructed by China on the Yarlung Tsangpo river is a matter of serious concern, said Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. He warned that China has not signed any international water-sharing treaty, making its intentions unpredictable. “Beyond military threats, this is a far greater danger. It poses the gravest threat to our very existence. This is an extremely serious issue, because China could use it like a ‘water bomb’,” Khandu said in an interview with Press Trust of India. The Brahmaputra river is known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu further said:

1.“Had China signed an international water-sharing agreement, this wouldn’t have been an issue. In fact, the project could have been a blessing for India. It would have helped control monsoon floods in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and even Bangladesh. But China’s refusal to sign the treaty creates a serious risk.”

2. If the dam is completed and China suddenly releases the water, our entire Siang region will be wiped out. Indigenous tribal communities and similar groups will lose everything—their land, property, and livelihoods. It would be a human disaster. This is precisely why the Arunachal Pradesh Government, after consultations with the Government of India, has proposed the ‘Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.’ It will act as a defensive infrastructure and ensure water security.”

3.“The Union Government cannot afford to merely register protest and remain silent on this issue. Who can pressure China ? We certainly cannot convince them with reason. Instead, we must demonstrate preparedness. The dam is being built on a vast stretch of the Himalayan range, from where the river turns and enters Arunachal Pradesh.”