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Guwahati: The All Assam Engineers’ Association (AAEA) has expressed deep concern over the potential risks posed by China’s massive hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) following the recent earthquake that struck the Tibetan plateau. The 7.1-magnitude quake, which occurred on January 7, 2025, claimed over 125 lives, injured many, and displaced nearly 30,000 people.
The AAEA fears that a high-intensity tremor in the future could lead to the collapse of the dam, causing catastrophic damage downstream in the Brahmaputra valley. The association has urged the Government of India to engage with Beijing to ensure the safety of the Brahmaputra river basin, which spans northeastern India and parts of Bangladesh.
The earthquake, with its epicenter located around 80 kilometers from Mount Everest, destroyed over 3,500 houses across Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of eastern India. However, due to restricted internet access in Tibet, the full extent of the damage is yet to emerge.
Highlighting the risks, AAEA president Er Kailash Sarma, working president Er Nava J Thakuria, and secretary Er Inamul Hye emphasized the potential dangers of China’s hydropower project, which is touted as the world’s largest, with an annual electricity generation capacity of 300 billion kilowatt-hours.
They cautioned that a significant earthquake near the dam’s location could devastate downstream regions, including northeastern India and north Bangladesh. While Chinese officials claim that the project will not significantly impact downstream areas, the AAEA called on New Delhi to address the issue urgently and seek assurances from Beijing.
