Last month, the Chinese government approved the construction of the “Meydog Hydropower Station” on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet. Once completed, it will be the largest dam in the world, costing $137 billion and generating 60,000 megawatts of electricity, which is more than double the electricity needs of Pakistan.
The news of this dam has caused a stir in Indian government circles because the Yarlung Zangbo River flows into India, where it is known as the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and the Brahmaputra in Assam. These rivers irrigate millions of acres of farmland and tea plantations. Additionally, India is already constructing two dams on the river, and if the Chinese dam is built, India fears not only losing water supply for vast agricultural areas but also that its dams may fail to generate power.
Viewing the Chinese dam as a serious threat, India has announced plans to build its own dam, the “Upper Siang Hydroelectric Project,” near the Chinese project. Once completed, it will generate 10,000 to 12,000 megawatts of electricity, making it the largest dam in South Asia.
