Context:

China is planning to build a huge dam on the river Brahmaputra, which has raised concern in downstream countries – India and Bangladesh.

Yarlung Zangbo

• The Brahmaputra (called the Yarlung Tsangpo in China) is one of the longest rivers in the world.
• The trans-border Yarlung Zangbo originates from the Majieyangzom glacier in the southwest of the Tibetan Plateau and flows into Arunachal Pradesh where it is called the Siang and then to Assam as the Brahmaputra before flowing into Bangladesh.
• Of the total 2,880 kilometers (km) length of the Yarlung Tsangpo/ Brahmaputra
  • Tibet (2,880 km): 1,625 km flows through the Tibetan plateau with the name the Yarlung Tsangpo
  • India (918 km): It assumes the names of Siang, Dihang, and the Brahmaputra in its 918 kilometers in India
  • Bangladesh (337 km): the rest of the 337 kilometers in Bangladesh is named the Jamuna till its confluence with the Ganges near Goalando.

China’s plans

• The dam is to be built on the river in Medog county, where it drops by 2,000 meters, making it an ideal place to harness hydropower.
• This region is located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, governed by China.
• In 2010, China began construction of small dams along the mainstream of the Yarlung Tsangpo, two of them have already been completed and at least three are under construction.
• The proposed one is the largest of them all.