India to build tallest dam in response to China's project
India plans to build its largest-ever dam on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh, mainly as a response to China's massive Yaxia hydropower project upstream (where the river is called Yarlung Tsangpo).
The planned Indian dam will stand 280 meters tall and store up to 9.2 billion cubic meters of water.
Dam could generate around 11,200 megawatts of electricity
This isn't just about power—India wants to prevent any risks from sudden water releases by China, sometimes called "weaponized water."
The dam could generate around 11,200 megawatts of electricity, boosting India's energy game.
But there are concerns too: local Adi tribes fear losing their homes and cultural ties to the river if villages are submerged, and experts worry about building such a huge structure in an earthquake-prone Himalayan zone.
With both countries ramping up projects on this crucial river, water security and regional tensions are front and center for everyone living downstream.