China new mega dam triggers fears of water war in India
India is very anxious about the possibility of a future water crisis or even a water war because of China’s new mega dam in Tibet, which may radically cut water flow on a major shared river by up to 85% during the dry season. In an effort to lessen the effects, India has accelerated plans to construct a sizable dam of its own. China
The Mega Dam and its Potential Impacts
In December 2024, China acknowledged that it would build the biggest hydroelectric dam in the world in a border county in Tibet on the Yarlung Zangbo River, just before it crosses into India. In July 2025, the construction was started on this nearly $170 billion dam and will take energy from the river that is close to the Angsi Glacier. More than 100 million people downstream in China, India, and Bangladesh take water from this river, which drains into India as the Siang and Brahmaputra. Because of the Chinese project India is anxious that 40 billion cubic meters of water might be sidetracked per annum, which must decrease water accessibility or availability by up to 85% in the arid season. Many people, who depend on the river, as well as manufacturing and crop growing, could be damagingly compressed, especially in times of scarcity and increasing temperatures.
Countermeasures of India: The Upper Siang Dam
On a stream of Brahmaputra, the Upper Siang River, India is constructing a 14 billion cubic meter dam of its own. The objectives of the dam are to minimize water scarcities and control water issues during dry curses. In Arunachal Pradesh, the supervision has passed out reviews while being equipped, despite confrontation from the local public.
The main town of Guwahati may practice water supply scarcities of about 11%, if the dam of India is complete, associated to an estimated 25% without the dam.
In order to diminish the opportunity of surprising “water bombs” downstream, India also aims to leave 30% of the dam’s volume empty in order to grip unexpected floods or planned releases from China’s dam.
Geopolitical and Regional Tension
Arunachal Pradesh regional claims and other broader geopolitical strains are present in this water dispute between China and India. Concerns about rising conflict over vibrant water resources are elevated by India’s fright that China may tactically use control of the communal river as a defense to apply pressure. Even though there are mutual promises in place to exchange hydrological data, trust is still low, mainly in the rouse of events like the Doklam standoff in 2017.
The risks are elevated for not only China and India but also for Bangladesh, which is mainly reliant on the Brahmaputra sink, due to the possibility of decreased water flows and independent control over an important river system.
Authorities stress the need for open teamwork on water managing, threatening that the increased shortage of water brought on by weather change may worsen tensions in administratively sensitive areas.
India is now extremely upset concerning a serious water calamity and potential conflict because of China’s striving mega dam in Tibet. In an effort to defend water safety, India is moving onward with its own huge dam project, which could decrease dry season water movements by up to 85%. This tense state proves how geopolitical oppositions, climate challenges, and shared natural assets can create unstable conditions that need to be carefully managed tactfully to avoid catastrophe.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are exclusively those of the author and do not reflect the official stance, policies, or perspectives of the Platform.
