NEW DELHI, India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has announced a sweeping ₹6.4 trillion ($77 billion) transmission and hydropower development plan targeting the Brahmaputra River basin, a region rich in hydroelectric potential but geopolitically sensitive due to its proximity to China’s upstream dam projects.
The initiative, detailed in a CEA report released earlier this month, outlines the construction and integration of 208 large-scale hydroelectric projects across 12 sub-basins in India’s northeastern states. The plan aims to harness 76 gigawatts (GW) of capacity by 2047, including 64.9 GW from conventional hydro plants and 11.1 GW from pumped-storage facilities News18 India TV News.
Strategic and Environmental Dimensions
The Brahmaputra River, known as the Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet, originates in China and flows through India and Bangladesh. India’s hydropower push is seen as a strategic buffer against China’s increasing dam activity upstream, which Indian officials fear could impact water flow, ecological balance, and regional stability News18 NDTV.
Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China, is expected to contribute over 52 GW of the total planned capacity, making it central to India’s energy and security strategy. The region holds more than 80% of India’s untapped hydro potential, according to the CEA Hindustan Times.
Energy Transition and Grid Modernization
The plan also supports India’s broader clean energy goals, aiming to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and meet rising electricity demand. The transmission infrastructure will enable real-time grid balancing, facilitate renewable integration, and improve energy access in remote regions India TV News esgtimes.in.
Nirmal Menon, writing for ESG Times, noted that the initiative “strengthens India’s energy resilience while addressing geopolitical vulnerabilities tied to transboundary water management” esgtimes.in.
Challenges Ahead
While the plan is ambitious, it faces hurdles including environmental clearances, local opposition, and interstate coordination. Experts also warn of the need for sustainable development practices to mitigate ecological disruption in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Summary: India’s $77 billion hydropower expansion in the Brahmaputra basin is a strategic move to bolster energy security, accelerate its green transition, and counter China’s upstream dam influence. The plan envisions 76 GW of capacity by 2047, with Arunachal Pradesh playing a pivotal role.
Hydropower Plant Picture by Carol M Highsmith on rawpixel
Sources: News18: India TV News: NDTV: Hindustan Times: esgtimes.in
