Chinese dam begins construction despite concerns from neighbours
Chinese authorities have started construction on what is set to become the largest hydropower dam on the planet. The project, built on Tibetan territory, has led to concerns from China’s neighbours including India and Bangladesh.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang oversaw a ceremony marking the start of the construction of the dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, local media reported. The river flows through the Tibetan plateau. The dam has led to criticism over its potential impact on Indians and Bangladeshis who live downriver. It has also seen concerns over its impact on local Tibetans and the surrounding environment.
According to Beijing, the dam, which costs an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan (£125 billion), prioritises ecological protection, adding that it will boost local prosperity. When finished, the Motou Hydropower Station will overtake the Three Gorges dam as the largest on Earth. It is expected to generate three times as much energy.
But experts and officials have shared their worries that it could empower China to control or divert the river, which flows south into India and Bangladesh. The Lowy Institute, a think tank based in Australia, published a report in 2020 where it wrote that “control over these rivers [in the Tibetan Plateau] effectively gives China a chokehold on India’s economy.”
Meanwhile, India has revealed plans to build its own hydropower dam on the Siang river, hoping to act as a buffer against sudden water release from the Chinese dam, preventing flooding in the region.
The foreign ministry of China has responded to India. In 2020, it said that it has a “legitimate right” to dam the river, adding that it has considered downstream impacts.
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