China's Mega Dam Sparks Concerns for South Asia's Future

The construction of a massive hydropower dam by China on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet has alarmed Tibetan experts in exile, who caution about its environmental, geopolitical, and regional impacts. Expected to surpass the size of the Three Gorges Dam, this project could significantly affect downstream nations like India and Bangladesh.

Dechen Palmo, a researcher at the Tibet Policy Institute of the Tibetan government-in-exile, highlighted China's strategic exploitation of water resources and critiqued the lack of transparency surrounding the dam's design and implications. Last year, China's approval of the project raised eyebrows, with recent announcements indicating imminent construction.

Palmo voiced concerns about environmental risks, noting the seismically active Medog region's proclivity for landslides and earthquakes. The lack of shared information has fueled apprehension about the dam's potential ramifications on the environment and regional geopolitics. Dolma Tsering, deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, reiterated worries about China's ability to leverage these water projects for political gains.

(With inputs from agencies.)