Assam CM urges calm amid concerns over China’s dam project on Brahmaputra

As China begins construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged for a balanced assessment of the potential impact, saying there are two scientific views on how the mega project might affect India’s northeastern region, particularly Assam.

Speaking at a public event in Guwahati on Monday, the chief minister said while concerns are understandable, there is no immediate cause for alarm. He noted that the Brahmaputra is a mighty river not dependent on a single source, as it receives the majority of its water from tributaries in Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, and the rainfall within Assam itself.

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Sarma added that the real impact of the dam would only be known once it is completed, and he expressed the hope that the Central government is in diplomatic touch with its Chinese counterpart over the issue.

The $167.8-billion dam project in Medog County of Tibet, near the Indian border, has caused anxiety among environmentalists, hydrologists, and security analysts who fear it could alter the natural flow of the Brahmaputra, thereby affecting agriculture, biodiversity, and livelihoods downstream. China’s lack of transparency in its transboundary river projects has often been a point of contention, particularly with India, which is heavily reliant on accurate water flow data for disaster preparedness, especially during the monsoon season.

Addressing these apprehensions, Sarma said there are two possible scientific outcomes. One, if the flow of water is disrupted, there could be ecological consequences, including reduced water levels and loss of biodiversity.

On the other hand, he added, a reduction in water flow could also help Assam by acting as a “flood cushion” — a possible benefit for a state frequently ravaged by annual floods.

“But I don’t know which of these will turn out to be correct,” he added.