China has begun construction of the Medog mega hydropower plant in the Yarlung Tsangpo river gorge in Tibet. Foreign Policy Magazine reported this news. According to environmentalist Wen Jiabao, the construction of the hydroelectric plant is being carried out in strict secrecy, and the lack of public data makes it impossible to determine which areas will be flooded and how the river's flow will change. He emphasized that the project poses a threat to local flora and fauna, including rare species of plants and animals that live in the unique ecosystem of the area. Professor Sabrina Habich-Sobegalla of the Free University of Berlin noted that the construction site is home to the world's northernmost rainforest. In China, she said, conservation areas often overlap with areas of active energy development, where environmental priorities take a backseat to economic growth. The international political aspect also causes concern. South Asia adviser Neeraj Singh Manhas noted that China's control of the Brahmaputra river source across the border could increase its influence over India and Bangladesh. At the same time, Beijing rejected accusations that the project was politically motivated, saying that the construction was only aimed at developing domestic energy infrastructure. According to experts, implementing a “super dam” without an open social and environmental assessment could have serious consequences for the region's water resources and climate.
