Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu warned on December 26 that China’s completion of the Yarlung Dam project poses a significant threat to Northeast India and Bangladesh, with potential flooding that could submerge major cities and regions.
The warning comes as local protests intensify against India’s proposed countermeasure, the 11,000 MW Siang Multipurpose Project.
According to Khandu, “Pasighat, Guwahati, and even Bangladesh will face devastating floods if China releases stored water from their dam.” Technical assessments indicate that Pasighat could be submerged under 12 meters of water, while Guwahati faces up to 5 meters of flooding.
The Siang project is being pushed as a defensive measure to mitigate the potential flood impact. State officials emphasize that the project serves multiple purposes, including flood control, water security, and power generation. The development plan also includes social infrastructure like hospitals, colleges, and improved road connectivity.
However, local opposition has emerged in several villages along the Siang belt, with concerns about potential displacement and ecological damage. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein defended the deployment of central security forces in the region, stating they were only protecting survey equipment and personnel.
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 emphasizing the project’s defensive necessity against emerging water security threats.
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