India plans ‘buffers’ in proposed Arunachal hydropower project to counter ‘China threat’

Subject :Geography

Section : Hydrology

Concept :

The design of a hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district is being influenced by the concerns over China’s proposed 60,000 MW hydropower in Medog in Tibet.
The concerns are that the 60,000 MW dam in Medog might reduce the natural flow of the Brahmaputra, which might impact India during lean patches, or could also trigger “artificial floods” in India.
The proposed hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district is an 11,000 MW project and is said to be five times the size of the largest such projects in India.
The key objective of the construction of the project is to manage flooding in the Brahmaputra, however, there are also strategic aspects attached to the project.
Furthermore, the National HydroPower Corporation (NHPC) is expected to commission the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project which is the largest of its kind in terms of installed capacity in India.

Brahmaputra:

The Brahmaputra riverwhich is known as YarlungTsangpo in China is a transborder river that originates in the Mansarovar lake near Mount Kailash in Tibet.
It enters India west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh.
Tributaries: Dibang, Lohit, Siang, BurhiDihing, Tista, and Dhansari.
It is a perennial river and has several peculiar characteristics due to its geography and prevailing climatic conditions.
It is flooded twice annually. One flood is caused by the melting of the Himalayan snow in summer and the other due to the monsoon flows.
The river is in itself dynamic as frequent landslides and geological activity force it to change course very often.
Brahmaputra river accounts for close to 30% of freshwater resources and 40% of India’s hydropower potential and diverting its flow can impact agriculture in states such as Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.