June 30, 2021
3 mins read

China operationalises biggest hydro project in seismic zone

China’s stupendous feats in dam engineering and water management give nightmares to environmental groups, geologists and biologists….reports Rahul Kumar

Monday was a big day for China and also the Communist Party of China (CPC). The country operationalised the Baihetan Hydropower Station in Southwest China, the largest hydropower project in the world.

The CPC gave itself a mammoth gift on its 100th anniversary–the plant will generate 1 million KW units. The State-managed newspaper Global Times said: “… the breakthrough of this super project marks a new milestone in the development of hydroelectricity in China, and also reflects the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, under the leadership of the CPC, in concentrating its efforts on major projects.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping too sent a congratulatory letter. Highlighting that the plant will transfer power from western China to the eastern part of the country, he said: “Socialism was established through action, and the new era will be no different”. He added that the plant will help China achieve its targets for peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality.

China’s stupendous feats in dam engineering and water management give nightmares to environmental groups, geologists and biologists. The multiple reasons are environmental impacts, stability of structures as well as loss of habitat.

India Narrative spoke with Dr Anjal Prakash, Research Director at the Indian School of Business, to find out more. Dr Prakash is the lead author in the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report which is currently ongoing.

ALSO READ: Growing global tensions with China

Dr Prakash says that China has constructed the Baihetan Hydropower Station in the ecologically fragile Yunnan province. “The dam is on the Jinsha River in the upper stench of the mighty Yangtze River in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. These provinces are also seismically active. Just last month, an earthquake of 6.1 magnitude hit Yunnan province. Building such a high dam on seismically and ecologically fragile regions is a recipe for disaster”.

It is surprising that China has undertaken the construction of big dams at a time when such constructions are considered a pariah. Even global funding is drying up for big dams owing to their environmental costs which people and nature have to bear over a period of time. Big dams are associated with mass displacement of people, loss of identity and cultural heritage, habitat destruction and wiping out of endangered species.

“In the wake of a rapidly changing climate which is impacting water regimes around the world, building a high dam on Jinsha River could also prove to bring in huge climate related risks. Due to climatic changes, the patterns of rainfall have been changing. If there is high rainfall in the upper reaches of the river basin, it may affect the dam and could bring in huge stress”, says Dr Prakash.

He adds that big hydropower projects are increasingly becoming costlier and this doesn’t match with its advantages. “China is setting a very wrong example for countries around the world by building such dams”, says Dr Prakash.

Chinese newspaper Global Times itself says: “… the project had to overcome extremely difficult technical problems, such as the fragile geology, the hot and dry wind in the valley, and the large excavation work”. These itself could become issues for the dam to surmount in the future.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

ALSO READ: CDS Rawat reviews troops preparedness on China border 

Previous Story

England Beat Germany Ending 55-Year Wait

Next Story

Raab, Jaishankar discuss regional issues

Latest from -Top News

Pakistan Slams IWT Move as ‘Act of War’

Islamabad also said that India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will be considered as an “act of war”…reports Asian Lite News The high-level emergency meeting of Pakistan’s National Security

Modi: We’ll Hunt Them Down

The Prime Minister thanked nations that extended support to India in the aftermath of the terror attack…reports Asian Lite News In his first address after the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu

Moscow Steps Up Afghan Diplomacy

Russia sees a potential economic partner in the Taliban authorities, who praised Moscow for scrapping the “terrorism” label last week…reports Asian Lite News Russia has announced that it will elevate the Afghan

World leaders condemn Kashmir terror attack 

Strong messages of condemnation of the terror attack came from leaders in different parts of the world including the US, Russia, UAE, Israel, Singapore, France, Sri Lanka and Iran  World leaders strongly

India downgrades ties with Pakistan 

The decision — which also included the downgrading of diplomatic ties with Pakistan — came after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by the PM   India on
Go toTop

Don't Miss

China’s economic growth losing steam

The urban unemployment rate in September was 4.9 per cent.

CPEC project faces roadblock

The 1,500 acres project, is being executed jointly by the