Chinese Scientists Fought For 74 Years To Build Brahmaputra River Dam: Report

After 74 years of scientific groundwork, China has formally begun construction on the world’s most powerful dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The move carries far-reaching implications for India and the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

Known in Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo, the Brahmaputra flows from the glaciers of western Tibet into India’s northeast, where it sustains millions.

On 19 July, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced the launch of the dam’s main phase near Nyingchi, a region close to the Arunachal Pradesh border.

With an estimated installed capacity of 60,000 megawatts, the project would generate three times the electricity of the Three Gorges Dam and become the largest hydropower station on Earth. It is being promoted by Beijing as a green energy milestone.

Decades of surveys, hydrological mapping and theoretical proposals followed, though progress was repeatedly stalled by political upheaval, including the Great Leap Forward and the 1962 war with India.

In the 1980s, research resumed in earnest, with Chinese scientists identifying multiple potential sites and proposing deep tunnel diversions and underground powerhouses. Many of those early ideas now form the core of the current plan.

The 1.2 trillion yuan (approximately ₹14 lakh crore) project is entirely funded by the Chinese state. It is backed by a massive ±800 kilovolt ultra-high voltage transmission line connecting southeastern Tibet to industrial hubs in Guangdong and Hong Kong.

For India, the project raises significant concerns. The Brahmaputra is a vital water source for the northeastern states. Any large-scale diversion or damming upstream could affect river flow, agriculture and ecological balance downstream. India has also pointed out the absence of a water-sharing agreement and China’s lack of transparency on such projects.