NEW DELHI, July 10: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has raised serious concerns over China’s construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam near the Arunachal Pradesh border, calling it a ticking “water bomb” and an existential threat to the region.

In a recent interview with PTI, Khandu warned that the dam being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo river—known as the Brahmaputra in India—could have catastrophic consequences for northeastern India, especially for the tribes living along the Siang belt.

Khandu stated that China’s refusal to sign any international water treaty has made the project even more dangerous, as there is no binding obligation to regulate water flow or share data with downstream nations. “The issue is that China cannot be trusted. No one knows what they might do,” Khandu said, adding that the water threat from this dam could outweigh even the military threat posed by China.

The massive $137 billion project, approved in 2024, is expected to generate 60,000 MW of power and is being constructed in a deep Himalayan gorge where the river makes a sharp U-turn into Arunachal Pradesh. The chief minister warned that any sudden release of water from this dam could devastate the entire Siang valley and threaten the lives and livelihoods of local tribal communities, including the Adi people.

Had China been a signatory to international water-sharing treaties, Khandu said, such a project might have even benefited India by regulating summer floods in Arunachal, Assam, and Bangladesh. Instead, the project is now seen as a unilateral and potentially destructive move.

To counter this threat, the Arunachal Pradesh government, in consultation with the Centre, has initiated the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, a strategic infrastructure project aimed at serving both as a flood control mechanism and a safeguard for India’s water security. Khandu noted that China has already started or is on the verge of beginning construction, yet no information has been shared with Indian authorities.

He stressed the importance of proactive action, stating, “Since we cannot make China see reason, it is better that we focus on our own defence mechanisms and preparations.” He also emphasized the importance of community engagement and said he plans to meet with the local Adi tribes to raise awareness about the looming threat.

Khandu concluded by saying that the Indian government cannot afford to simply protest and do nothing. Instead, it must continue developing strategic defences and infrastructure to secure the region’s water and environmental future.