Arunachal CM warns of catastrophic floods if China releases Yarlung Dam water

Massive flooding could submerge major cities and regions across Northeast India and Bangladesh if China completes its Yarlung Dam project and releases water, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu warned on December 26.

 

The stark assessment came as local protests intensify against India's proposed countermeasure - the 11,000 MW Siang Multipurpose Project.

 

"Pasighat, Guwahati and even Bangladesh will face devastating floods if China releases stored water from their dam," Khandu said, addressing growing concerns about upstream Chinese hydroelectric developments on the Tsangpo river, which flows into India as the Siang and later joins the Brahmaputra.

 

The potential flood impact is severe - technical assessments indicate Pasighat could be submerged under 12 metres of water, while Guwahati faces up to 5 metres of flooding. These projections have accelerated India's push for the Siang project as a defensive measure.

 

State officials frame the Siang project as critical infrastructure serving multiple purposes: flood control, water security, and power generation. The development plan includes social infrastructure like hospitals, colleges, and improved road connectivity.

 

However, local opposition has emerged in several villages along the Siang belt. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein defended the recent deployment of central security forces in the region, stating they were only protecting survey equipment and personnel. "We are not anti-people, nor are we anti-Arunachal," Mein emphasised.

 

While villagers protest potential displacement and ecological damage, state leadership maintains that the project is essential to prevent China from potentially wielding water as a strategic weapon.

 

"This is crucial for national security and to prevent our river from drying up," Khandu stressed, noting China's ongoing construction of a 60,000 MW project upstream. As tensions persist, state officials continue calling for dialogue with affected communities while emphasising the project's defensive necessity against emerging water security threats.