Big worry for India as China launches 'Water Bomb', begins construction of Brahmaputra Mega Dam, Delhi on Alert as it will…
According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the ceremony took place at the dam site of Nyingchi's Mainling hydropower station in Tibet Autonomous Region. The hydropower project, regarded as the biggest infrastructure project in the world, raised concerns in the lower riparian countries, India and Bangladesh. Here are some of the key details: The project will consist of five cascade hydropower stations
The project will need a total investment estimated at around 1.2 trillion Yuan (about USD 167.8 billion)
According to a 2023 report, the hydropower station is expected to generate more than 300 billion kWh of electricity each year
The dam is to be built at a huge gorge in the Himalayan reaches where the Brahmaputra River makes a huge U-turn to flow into Arunachal Pradesh and then to Bangladesh.
It will primarily deliver electricity for external consumption while also addressing local demand in Tibet, which China officially refers to as Xizang.
Representatives from various organisations, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Power Construction Corporation of China and locals attended the ceremony, the report said.
According to earlier reports, the size of the project would dwarf any other single infrastructure project on the planet, including China's own Three Gorges dam, regarded as the largest in the world. China has already operationalised the USD 1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet, in 2015, which raised concerns in India. Concerns Arose In India:
Concerns arose in India as the dam besides empowering China to control the water flow, the size and scale of it could also enable Beijing to release large amounts of water flooding border areas in times of hostilities.
India too is building a dam over Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh.
India and China established the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers under which China provides India with hydrological information on the Brahmaputra river and Sutlej river during the flood seasons.
Data sharing of trans-border rivers figured in the talks between India, China Special Representatives (SRs) for border question, NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, held here on December 18 last year.
The Brahmaputra Dam presents enormous engineering challenges as the project site is located along a tectonic plate boundary where earthquakes occur.
The Tibetan plateau, regarded as the roof of the world, frequently experiences earthquakes as it is located over the tectonic plates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
22 minutes ago
- Mint
Global oversight needed for the tokenization of currency: Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday called for a redefinition of multilateral institutions to provide effective oversight as countries explore the tokenization of currency, warning of rising complexity and the lack of global frameworks to govern this shift. Speaking at the release of a book, A World in Flux: India's Economic Priorities, in New Delhi, she said that multilateral institutions have never been left in limbo in the last 100 years. The finance minister said this is true for financial as well as strategic institutions. Every multilateral institution that has successfully served earlier is now wondering where it is, what its immediate future will be, and how it will redefine itself. Her concerns about the tokenization of currency—the transformation of money into digital tokens on a blockchain or distributed ledger—come at a time when cryptocurrencies are increasingly making their way into the financial world. The Reserve Bank of India has cautioned multiple times that virtual currencies are risky. However, the US government under President Donald Trump is encouraging more innovation in this area. In January, Trump signed an executive order to ensure Washington's leadership in digital financial technology. He then set up a working group to develop a federal regulatory framework governing digital assets, including stablecoins, and to evaluate the creation of a strategic national digital assets stockpile. Trump also revoked the Treasury Department's 'Framework for International Engagement on Digital Assets, which suppressed innovation and undermined US economic liberty and global leadership in digital finance'. The US is also trying to become the 'crypto capital of the planet', according to the presidential order. Sitharaman said multilateral institutions have to be redefined. 'If you could go for a currency with no gold backing sometime in the 70s, now it is already moving towards tokenization and is that something on which we see the depth of?' The minister also asked if there was any framework under which any country could unilaterally take that route. 'Who is going to have oversight on these sorts of things?' The minister said the depth and the complexity of the situation were increasing. The book, A World in Flux: India's Economic Priorities, edited by Amita Batra, former chairperson at the Centre for South Asian Studies and A.K. Bhattacharya, editorial director at Business Standard is published by Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd. Sitharaman also said in response to a question about the normalization of economic ties with China that it was right to point out that there are calls for greater access and interaction with China, and possibly to open some windows. 'That is not just from our side, even the Chinese have been approaching through the ministry of external affairs,' the minister said, referring to external affairs minister S. Jaishankar's recent visit to China. 'There is some kind of beginning. As to how far it will go, it is something we will have to wait and see,' the minister said, adding it might help the economy, and a sense of caution would have to be built in. To a question on investments in the economy, she said that companies' and banks' balance sheets have become healthier, and the corporate tax rate was cut to boost investments. Referring to what the minister was hearing from observers and her own interactions with business leaders, Sitharaman asked if businesses were sitting on passive, investible funds. 'That is, investible funds that are being engaged passively rather than investing and expanding capacity. That is an issue that I would obviously want the industry to speak about.' On trade, she said bilateral trade has now taken priority over multilateral trade, though she could not comment on the merits of this trend. The minister added that negotiations for trade deals are well progressing with the US and the EU.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Indian community stages protests in Ireland over racist attack
1 2 3 4 Bhubaneswar: Racist attack on an Indian at Tallaght, Dublin, has sent shockwaves through the Indian diaspora in Ireland, prompting them to stage protests in Dublin on Friday and Saturday. On July 19, an Indian national was brutally attacked by a group of youths in Tallaght, stabbed multiple times in the face, stripped naked, and left bleeding on the road for over an hour before emergency services arrived. "The attack in Tallaght was not just a crime against one Indian migrant but an attack on the dignity of every Indian living abroad. We came to Ireland to work hard, to study and to contribute. We deserve safety, respect, and justice just like any citizen," Prince Singh, a protester told TOI over the telephone from Ireland. On Saturday, 700 to 800 people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and even Ireland, as well as trade union members, organised a protest march from City Hall, Dublin City Centre, to the National Gallery. "It saw strong participation from trade union members, activists, and citizens from diverse backgrounds. The demonstration called for unity against racism, better protection for minorities, and stronger action from authorities," said Dayakar Reddy Komirelly, vice-president of VHCCI (Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre Ireland). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo On Friday, around 200 people gathered in front of Ireland's department of justice for a peaceful and silent 40-minute protest, which was organised by Friends of India, Ireland, a collective of Indians from diverse regions and professions living across Ireland. "We protested in a non-violent and peaceful way," said Indian-born Senthil Ramasamy, a peace commissioner with the Irish govt from Waterford, who was part of the protest. He said there has been an increase in racist-related crimes in Ireland in the last 6 to 7 years. The video of the attack sparked outrage both in Ireland and across the world. An online petition with over 15,000 signatures was submitted to the minister for justice, Jim O'Callaghan, calling for immediate action, accountability, and systemic protections for minorities. While the majority in attendance at the protest were Indian migrants, the crowd also included members of other immigrant groups and Irish citizens. They displayed placards with "Say no to racism", "All lives matter" and "Ireland is home" as part of the protest. "I decided to be part of the protest because we have to stand for our rights," said Somanath Nanda, an IT professional. The organisers lauded An Garda Síochána (Irish police) for classifying the incident as "racially motivated". They also thanked the Embassy of India in Dublin for its support for the victim and his family. "We stand here with our community and with every migrant who has ever felt fear because of the colour of their skin or the accent of their voice. Ireland must act. And the whole world, including India, is watching," said Singh. Indians form the largest non-EU immigrant community in Ireland, numbering over 100,000. They play a significant role in the IT and healthcare sectors.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India-UK trade pact to benefit youth, MSMEs, startups: PM Modi
India-UK trade pact to benefit youth, MSMEs, startups: PM Modi TUTICORIN: The India-UK FTA will benefit Tamil Nadu (TN) youth, MSMEs, and startups, PM Narendra Modi said at Tuticorin airport, where he launched infrastructure projects worth over Rs 4,800 crore across southern TN on Saturday. Among the major projects unveiled was the Rs 450 crore new airport terminal designed to handle 20 lakh passengers annually. "Following FTA, 99% of Indian products sold in UK will be tax-free, boosting Indian manufacturing and creating new opportunities. The agreement will serve as a catalyst for industries rooted in TN's traditional strengths, ranging from handlooms to seafood exports," he said, addressing the gathering at the airport. Modi said TN is witnessing unprecedented development under NDA government at Centre. "Infrastructure and energy form the backbone of any state's development. Over past 11 years, the sustained focus on these sectors reflects the priority accorded to the state's progress," he said. The PM said Rs 3 lakh crore was devolved to TN central taxes over the past 11 years, nearly three times what was allotted under previous UPA government. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Urologists: Enlarged Prostate? Every Man Should Stop This 1 Habit! Prostate Health Journal Click Here Undo He inaugurated multiple projects involving road, rail, port, and power sectors. All the launches, including ribbon-cutting of the terminal, were done symbolically from the airport. He flagged off three railway infrastructure upgrades and electrification of the Madurai-Bodinayakkanur line. He also laid the foundation for a Rs 550 crore 765 kV transmission corridor project to evacuate power from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4. Modi said the global perception of India has shifted significantly. "Today, the world sees its own growth in India's growth," he said. Recalling India's success in Operation Sindoor , he said, "You all recently witnessed the power of ' Make in India ' during Operation Sindoor. Made-in-India weapons played a crucial role in reducing terror hideouts to rubble. Even today, arms manufactured in India continue to shake the sleep of those who shelter terrorism." He said NDA government prioritised the coastal economy, ensuring inclusive development. "TN's growth is a vital component of our vision for a Viksit Bharat," he said. Modi also invoked the memories of freedom fighters and poets, including V O Chidambaranar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Alagumuthu Kone, and Subramania Bharati. Modi arrived at Tuticorin airport 7.45pm and was received by governor R N Ravi, Union ministers L Murugan and Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, TN finance minister Thangam Thennarasu and industries minister TRB Rajaa. The event also witnessed brief political sloganeering between BJP and DMK cadres near the airport.
