China is trying to save its ecology as the much-talked Three Gorges Dam has significantly altered the natural flow of the Yangtze River.
China’s Three Gorges Dam: In a massive development that has shocked the world, the People’s Republic of China, led by President Xi Jinping has undertaken a sweeping ecological restoration project along the Chishui River in order to save and provide ecological longevity to its much-talked about Three Gorges Dam. Media reports have indicated that in a major demolition drive, China has demolishing 300 dams and decommissioning over 90% of small hydropower stations.
Why China is trying to save Three Gorges Dam?
The initiative is seen across the world as a step by China to save its much-talked about Three Gorges Dam which has significantly altered the natural flow of the Yangtze River, leading to disrupted fish migration, sedimentation imbalance, and declining biodiversity.
Thus, by removing smaller dams in tributaries like the Chishui River, China is planning to restore natural water pulses and connectivity, benefiting the entire river basin, including the areas downstream of the Three Gorges.
What is estimated cost of China’s biggest dam?
The dam is to be built at a huge gorge in the Himalayan reaches where the Brahmaputra river makes a huge U-turn to flow into Arunachal Pradesh and then to Bangladesh. As per a report by PTI news agency, the project, located in the ecologically fragile Himalayan region along a tectonic plate boundary where earthquakes occur frequently is estimated to cost around USD 137 billion.
Why China’s biggest infra project is worrying India and Bangladesh
The world’s largest dam, approved by the government of China, which is stated to be the planet’s biggest infra project costing USD 137 billion, on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Indian border, raising concerns in riparian states – India and Bangladesh, due to its massive nature.
According to an official statement quoted by state-run Xinhua news agency, the Chinese government has approved the construction of a hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra.
However, China recently claimed that the planned project has gone through rigorous scientific verification and will not have any negative impact on downstream countries — India and Bangladesh.
(With inputs from agencies)
