China’s Mega Dam Project On Brahmaputra Faces Disaster Risk, Scientists Raise Alarm; Why It Matters For India?

China Mega Dam Project: China has begun construction of a massive hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river in Tibet, very close to the Indian border. However, a latest warning from Chinese geologists regarding an active fault line has raised concerns over the safety of the massive project. The warning is significant as the same river enters India as the Brahmaputra River and supports the lives and livelihoods of millions of people.

Chinese Scientists Warn About Fault Line Risk

According to a research paper published in the Chinese government-backed journal ‘Sedimentary Geology and Tethyan Geology’, the proposed hydropower project is located near the Paizhen Fault, an active tectonic fault zone in southeastern Tibet. Due to this, the risk of earthquakes, landslides, and damage to the infrastructure, including dams, roads and bridges, remains high.

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Risk Of Landslides And Earthquakes

Researchers from Chengdu University of Technology and the China Geological Survey found that the fault has remained “highly active since the Pleistocene” and continues to experience tectonic movement. According to the study, the region has weak rocks and loose soil, making it highly vulnerable to landslides. Furthermore, as the area is in the Himalayan region, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates continue to collide, it creates a constant risk of earthquakes.

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India’s Concerns

In the past, India has repeatedly raised questions over Beijing’s activities on the Brahmaputra River, expressing concern over possible changes in water flow, damage to ecosystems, and risks to communities living downstream. This is because after entering India, the Yarlung Tsangpo River becomes the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh and later the Brahmaputra in Assam. The river is a major source of agriculture, fishing, and livelihood for millions of people in northeastern states.

Earlier in 2025, in a written reply to queries raised in Rajya Sabha over the Chinese dam project, Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, stated that India is closely monitoring all developments related to the Brahmaputra River. He reiterated that New Delhi will take necessary steps to protect the interests, safety, and livelihoods of people living in downstream areas. Amid the concerns, China has maintained that the project is only meant for hydropower generation and will not significantly affect downstream water supplies.

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