Shared Waters

Water security has emerged as a critical issue in the Indo-Pacific region, where trans-boundary rivers often symbolise shared lifelines for multiple countries.

The construction of massive dams by China on rivers originating in the Tibetan Plateau, particularly the Yarlung Zangbo, poses significant challenges for downstream nations, including India. These dams, while presented as hydroelectric projects, raise questions about their environmental impact and potential use as strategic tools of coercion. Addressing these concerns requires a concerted regional and global effort, where partnerships play a pivotal role. India, with its downstream dependence on the Brahmaputra river, has voiced apprehensions about China's dam-building spree. The proposed hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo, poised to become the world's largest, exemplifies the risks. Beyond the potential for altering water flow, sediment transport, and regional ecology, these projects introduce a worrying geopolitical dimension. Controlled releases or withholding of water could exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, especially in India's northeast, where agriculture and livelihoods are deeply intertwined with the river's health.