Latest news with #MegaDamProject
India.com
21-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Explainer: China's Brahmaputra Mega Dam Called ‘Water Bomb' By India – Here's Why It's Alarming Delhi
China Launches Mega Dam Project: China has officially launched construction of what experts call the world's largest hydropower project, a colossal dam on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) in southeastern Tibet. The groundbreaking took place in Nyingchi's Mainling Gorge, announced by Premier Li Qiang, marking the start of a $167.8 billion venture. Five cascade power stations are planned. Electricity generation is pegged at 300 billion kWh per year, enough for over 300 million people, surpassing even the Three Gorges Dam. Why India and Bangladesh Are Concerned The dam site lies near Arunachal Pradesh, where the river enters Indian territory as the Siang, later becoming the Brahmaputra in Assam and flowing into Bangladesh. Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu has called it a 'ticking water bomb', warning of China's ability to disrupt river flow or trigger sudden water release, threatening tribal communities and livelihoods in India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and other senior officials involved in handling river sharing and water security issues have urged China to ensure the rights of downstream countries are not compromised and to allow transparent water data sharing. How Much Control Could China Actually Wield? Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and water experts argue China contributes only 30-35% of Brahmaputra flow, mainly via glacial melt and Tibetan rainfall. Over 65% of the flow is generated within India through monsoon-fed tributaries like Subansiri, Lohit, Manas and others. Research studies estimate China's contribution at just 15-20%, weakening fears of major flow control from upstream. Engineering and Geological Complexity The dam lies in the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, one of the deepest in the world. Construction will involve 420 km of tunnelling through fragile and earthquake-prone terrain near Namcha Barwa (a mountain peak lying in Tibet in the region of Pemako). Experts warn of risks like landslides and seismic displacement. In January 2025, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Tibet damaged hydropower infrastructure, highlighting seismic hazards near the dam zone. India's Plans to Offset Risks India is actively developing the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, a 11.2 GW hydropower plan near the LAC, to enhance flood control and energy security. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has described it as a strategic necessity, pitching it as both a barrier against flood risk and a defensive buffer in future water disputes. Broader Environmental and Diplomatic Stakes Analysts point to ethical and ecological implications, including potential displacement of communities and destruction of sacred ecological sites. Himalaya expert groups note an estimated 1.2 million people could be impacted across multiple Tibetan dams. Environmentalists and think tanks cite Mekong Basin precedents, where upstream dams by China have triggered droughts and disrupted downstream ecosystems. India and Bangladesh are watching closely as transboundary water law remains weak, no formal treaty exists with China to regulate flow timing or volume. So, China's mega-dam is not merely an energy project. It is a geo-environmental flashpoint. India's concerns range from water security to climate resilience, tribal impacts and strategic leverage that upstream control might afford Beijing.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Look to Changing Tree Color to Predict Volcanic Eruptions
NASA scientists believe it may be possible to predict when a volcano will erupt by using satellites to track changes in the color of surrounding trees. Before volcanoes erupt, they begin seeping carbon dioxide, a cue that people living nearby should evacuate. When, in December 2017, carbon dioxide levels began to rise around the Mayon volcano in the Philippines, officials alerted the public. More than 56,000 people evacuated, and after the volcano blew in January, not a single life was lost. The challenge is that many volcanoes are so remote that it is costly, challenging, and potentially dangerous to set up monitoring equipment on site, and the volume of carbon dioxide seeping from volcanoes is too small to be detectable by satellites. However, scientists have found that even small amounts of carbon dioxide can affect the growth of nearby trees, causing their foliage to become greener and more lush, and that these changes are visible from space. A recent study found a link between tree color, as shown in satellite imagery, and the amount of carbon dioxide issuing from Mount Etna, an active volcano in Italy. Now, NASA is studying changes in trees around the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano in Costa Rica in the hope of better predicting eruptions. Experts already have other forecasting tools. Before an eruption, the ground around a volcano bulges as magma rises beneath the surface, while small tremors hint that disaster is imminent. Recent research found that glaciers atop volcanoes flow faster as the earth heats up. Greening offers just one more clue. 'There's not one signal from volcanoes that's a silver bullet,' said NASA volcanologist Florian Schwandner. 'And tracking the effects of volcanic carbon dioxide on trees will not be a silver bullet. But it will be something that could change the game.' China's Mega Dam Project Poses Big Risks for Asia's Grand Canyon
