On the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, close to the Indian border, China has authorized the construction of the largest dam in the world.

The massive infrastructure project, which is expected to cost $137 billion, has alarmed downstream nations like Bangladesh and India due to possible effects on regional stability and water flow.

The Chinese government has approved the construction of a hydropower plant on the lower portion of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra, according to a report released Wednesday by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

According to the Hong Kong-based South China Post, the project's overall cost might approach one trillion yuan, or $137 billion, surpassing the investment of any other infrastructure project worldwide, including China's Three Gorges Dam, which is presently regarded as the largest in the world.

Where will the dam be constructed?

A huge gorge in the Himalayan region, where the Brahmaputra river makes a dramatic U-turn before entering Arunachal Pradesh and spilling into Bangladesh, is where the dam is supposed to be built.

What effects would the Brahmaputra Dam have on India?

India has expressed worries over the project because, in addition to giving China the ability to regulate the river's water flow, its sheer magnitude and capacity to flood border areas by releasing massive amounts of water during possible hostilities.

In Arunachal Pradesh, India is also building a dam of its own on the Brahmaputra. China gives India hydrological data on the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers during flood seasons through the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM), which was formed earlier in 2006 to handle different trans-border river issues.

On December 18, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met as Special Representatives to discuss data exchange on trans-border waterways.

Sharing information on trans-border rivers was one of the "positive directions for cross-border cooperation and exchanges" that the SRs "provided," according to the ministry of external affairs.

What difficulties arise in the construction industry?

Because the Tibetan plateau is situated above tectonic plates, it frequently suffers earthquake activity.

Before entering India, the Brahmaputra runs across the Tibetan Plateau, forming the deepest canyon in the world with a remarkable vertical drop of 25,154 feet, the Post report continued.

The building site of the dam is located in the area of mainland China that receives the most rainfall, guaranteeing a significant flow of water.

Hydropower will generate 300 million electricity

According to a 2023 estimate, the hydropower plant will generate more than 300 billion kWh of electricity yearly, which is enough to power 300 million people.

The proposal calls for building four to six tunnels, each around 20 km long, through the Namcha Barwa mountain to redirect half of the river's flow, which is expected to be roughly 2,000 cubic meters per second, in order to harness the river's hydroelectric potential, according to the news agency PTI.

Yan emphasized that the Yarlung Zangbo River's lower reaches hydropower development is more than merely an energy endeavor. It has important ramifications for national security, living standards, energy requirements, environmental preservation, and promoting global collaboration.

He stated, "It is a project for national security, including water resources and domestic security," adding that the project will facilitate collaboration with South Asia. He said the Tibet Autonomous Region might make 20 billion yuan ($3 billion) a year from the hydropower facility.