China's Yarlung Tsangpo Project a 'Water Bomb': Arunachal MP Tapir Gao Warns

ITANAGAR: Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao issued a stark warning about China's plans to construct the world's largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, terming it a grave threat to India and Southeast Asia.

He added while speaking at the inaugural session of the seminar 'Environment and Security' that was held in the Dorjee Khandu auditorium at Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Itanagar. According to him, "If Tibet is not safe then India and all of Southeast Asia is not safe. We need to save Tibet to protect the environment and national security.".

The proposed hydropower project by China would generate an unprecedented 60,000 MW of electricity using a nearly 2-kilometer-high dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo. This river enters Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang before merging into the Brahmaputra in Assam and continuing into Bangladesh.

Warning of the potential dangers, Gao called the dam a "water bomb," saying that any intentional or accidental release of water from the reservoir could unleash devastating floods across the Northeastern region of India, with downstream impacts reaching as far as the Bay of Bengal.

This is nothing short of a water bomb," Gao reiterated, adding, "If we do not act now, the consequences will be disastrous, not just for Arunachal but for the entire Northeastern region."

The MP also expressed concern over the project's environmental impact. Most of the major rivers in the region originate from Tibet, and any damage to the delicate ecosystem could result in far-reaching ecological and social fallout.

"This is not just an environmental crisis for India but for the entire Southeast Asian region," Gao stressed.  Touching upon the historical ties between India and Tibet, Gao hinted towards the region's importance as a hub of culture and religion. He recalls how the India-Tibet relationship flourished before the 1962 Sino-Indian war.

"Buddhism spread to the world through Tibet," Gao said, acknowledging the region's profound influence on global religious and cultural heritage. He also advocated for conferring the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, to the Dalai Lama for his contributions to world peace and Buddhism.

During the seminar, Gao urged for a collective effort to address the imminent threat posed by China's hydropower ambitions. "We must seriously think about this and fight against it now," he stated.

The seminar brought together notable dignitaries and figures, the list of which includes Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration, RK Khrimey of the Core Group for Tibetan Cause, Tibetologist Vijya Kranti, and Tarh Tarak, president of the Arunachal Pradesh Tibet Support Group. The community-based organizations also presented their representatives to underscore urgency.

The event highlighted the interlinking challenges toward environmental conservation, regional security, and cultural preservation. Gao's address wakes up India and its neighbors to the potential risks posed by China's hydropower ambitions and reiterates the crucial role of Tibet in maintaining regional stability.

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