On a football field surrounded by mist-covered mountains, passionate speeches echoed as tribal members voiced opposition to a proposed large dam, part of India’s ongoing competition with China over Himalayan water resources. India claims the new dam could serve as a countermeasure against China’s potential construction of a record-breaking dam upstream in Tibet, aiming to store water and prevent the release of weaponized floods. However, for locals near the potential site of India’s largest dam, the project is seen as a dire threat.
Residents, like Tapir Jamoh from the village of Riew, expressed staunch resistance against the dam project, symbolically holding a bow with a poison-tipped arrow, vowing to fight endlessly. The Adi people, residing in the remote northeastern region of India, feel a deep connection to their land, separated from Tibet and Myanmar by towering snowy peaks.
Plans indicate India is considering a location in Arunachal Pradesh for a colossal reservoir behind a 280-meter high dam, equivalent to four million Olympic-size swimming pools. Meanwhile, China is advancing with the Yaxia project, estimated at $167 billion, on the Siang River (Yarlung Tsangpo). Speculations suggest China’s project could generate three times more electricity than the Three Gorges dam, though details remain limited.
Despite improving relations between New Delhi and Beijing, border disputes persist, with India expressing concerns about China’s potential control of the Brahmaputra River through its dam, raising fears of orchestrated water scarcity or flooding downstream. While China denies such intentions and emphasizes no negative impact, India sees its dam as crucial for water security and flood control.
The proposed Indian dam could potentially produce significant hydropower, significantly reducing reliance on coal-based electricity. However, officials stress its primary purpose is safeguarding against any disruptive actions by China, such as sudden water releases. The project, if realized, would create a massive reservoir, impacting the sacred river and the livelihoods of the Adi people, who strongly oppose its construction.
Local resistance, including protests and clashes with authorities, underscores the deep-rooted opposition to the dam, with concerns about displacement of villages and loss of cultural heritage. Critics warn against the “dam-for-dam” approach, advocating for diplomatic solutions and collaborative water management instead of reactive infrastructure development. Despite challenges, India seems determined to proceed with its mega-dam plans, stirring emotions among those directly affected.