List of dams on the Brahmaputra River

  • Top left: Brahmaputra basin in India
  • Top right: Rangit Dam and reservoir on Rangeet River
  • Bottom left: Map of the Yarlung Tsangpo River watershed which drains the north slope of the Himalayas.

This is a list of dams on the Brahmaputra River and hydro–infrastructure in the Brahmaputra River Basin which is a key constituent of the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin of Himalayan rivers. Brahmaputra originates near Mount Kailash, flows through Tibet where it is called Yarlung Tsangpo. It enters India in Arunachal Pradesh in Eastern Himalaya, and then enters Bangladesh where it is called Jamuna (not to be mistaken with Yamuna tributary of Ganges in India). It finally flows into the Bay of Bengal where it merges with the Ganges at Sunderban Delta.

List of dams and other hydro–infrastructure

Upstream to downstream

Name Location Year

Completed

Notes/Ref


China
Yamdrok Hydropower Station 29°15′51″N 90°36′23″E / 29.2641°N 90.6064°E / 29.2641; 90.6064 1998 [1]
Pangduo Hydro Power Station 30°10′59″N 91°21′11″E / 30.183°N 91.353°E / 30.183; 91.353 2013
Zhikong Hydro Power Station 29°58′6.78″N 91°52′36.55″E / 29.9685500°N 91.8768194°E / 29.9685500; 91.8768194 2007
Zangmu Dam 29°11′06″N 92°31′00″E / 29.18500°N 92.51667°E / 29.18500; 92.51667 2015 [2]
Jiacha Hydropower Station 29°08′23″N 92°32′48″E / 29.13972°N 92.54667°E / 29.13972; 92.54667 (Jiacha Hydro Power Station) 2020 [3]
Lalho Hydroelectric Project Xiabuqu river, Shigatse 2019 [4]
Proposed: Lengda Hydro Power Station, Zhongda Hydro Power Station, Langzhen Hydro Power Station, Jeixu Dam and Jiexu Hydro Power Station, Dagu Dam and Dagu Hydro Power Station, Bayu Hydro Power Station, Lalho Dam and Lalho Hydroelectric Project, Medog Hydropower Station


Bhutan
Chukha Hydropower Project 1988 336 MW
Tala Hydroelectric Power Station 2007 1020 MW
Kurichhu Hydropower Project 2002 60 MW
Basochhu Hydropower Project 2004 40 MW
Other related projects: Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project (1200 MW), Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (1040 MW), Dagachhu Hydropower Project (126 MW), Jaldhaka hydroelectric plant (18 MW), Gyetsha Mini-Hydel (1.8 MW).
Proposed:


India
Subansiri Lower Dam 27°33′13″N 94°15′31″E / 27.55361°N 94.25861°E / 27.55361; 94.25861 (2026 target)[5] 2000 MW[6]
Ranganadi Dam 27°20′34″N 93°49′0″E / 27.34278°N 93.81667°E / 27.34278; 93.81667 2001 405 MW
Rangit Dam 27°17′41″N 88°17′32″E / 27.29472°N 88.29222°E / 27.29472; 88.29222 2000 60 MW
Dibang Dam 28°20′15″N 95°46′15″E / 28.33750°N 95.77083°E / 28.33750; 95.77083 (2032 target)[5] 2880MW[7]
Kameng 600 MW[8]
Pare 110 MW
Kopoli 110 MW
Khandong 50 MW
Karbi Langpi 100 MW
Tato-I 28°27′N 94°01′E / 28.45°N 94.02°E / 28.45; 94.02 (2029 expected) 186 MW
Tato-II 28°30′26″N 94°21′42″E / 28.5072°N 94.3618°E / 28.5072; 94.3618 (2032 expected)[9] 700 MW[9]
Teesta Low Dam-III 27°00′07″N 88°26′26″E / 27.0018057°N 88.4404352°E / 27.0018057; 88.4404352 132 MW
Teesta Low Dam-IV 26°56′02″N 88°26′49″E / 26.9339354°N 88.4470021°E / 26.9339354; 88.4470021 160 MW
Teesta-V 510 MW
Teesta-III 1200 MW
Chujachen 110 MW
Dikchu 96 MW
Tashiding 97 MW
Jorethang Loop 96 MW
Rongnichu 113 MW
Doyang 75 MW
Kyrdemkulai 60 MW
Umiam St. I 36 MW
New Umtru 40 MW
Umiam St. IV 60 MW
Myntdu St-I 126 MW
Other related projects: Upper Siang Hydroelectric Project, Tipaimukh Dam, Dihing River Irrigation Project,[10] Hawrapur Irrigation Project,[10] Teesta Barrage, Mayurakshi project, Kangshabati project[11]
Proposed: Doyang Hydro Electric station


Bangladesh
Barakhata Teesta Barrage[12]

Map

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130km
81miles
Zangmu Dam
Zangmu Dam
Rangit Dam
Rangit Dam
Angsi Glacier (source)
Angsi Glacier (source)
Subansiri Lower Dam
Subansiri Lower Dam
Ranganadi Dam
Ranganadi Dam
Pangduo Hydro Power Station
Pangduo Hydro Power Station
Zhikong Hydro Power Station
Zhikong Hydro Power Station
Yamdrok Hydro Power Station
Yamdrok Hydro Power Station
Jiacha Hydro Power Station
Jiacha Hydro Power Station
Hydro infrastructure on the Brahmaputra River, the Brahmaputra River Basin and Brahmaputra River tributaries

See also

References

  1. ^ "China's first hydropower dam on Brahmaputra is fully operational". HiLight News. 13 October 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Rajya Sabha Question No. 52 Dam on Brahmaputra by China". mea.gov.in. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. ^ "The Jiacha Hydropower Station with a total investment of 7.83 billion yuan will be put into operation this year". People's Daily. 17 March 2020.
  4. ^ Garg, Ibu Sanjeeb (18 October 2016). "Why India should be worried about China's Lalho dam". mint. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  5. ^ a b CM Pema Khandu Unveils Ambitious Roadmap for Viksit Arunachal @ 2047, arunachal24.in, 15 Aug 2025.
  6. ^ "Subansiri Hydroelectric Project to begin power generation by mid-June, full commissioning by May 2026". Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  7. ^ Rahman, Mirza Zulfiqur (26 September 2016). "China and India's race to dam the Brahmaputra river puts the Himalayas at risk". The Conversation. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  8. ^ "List of Hydro Electric Stations in the Country". CEA. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  9. ^ a b Centre approves Rs 8,146-Cr Tato-II Hydro Project in Arunachal; completion in 72 months, assamtribune.com, 12 Aug 2025.
  10. ^ a b Sarma 2013, p. 271.
  11. ^ Rudra 2018, p. 152.
  12. ^ Bangladesh has no dam on Brahmaputra/Jamuna except on Teesta River. However, its tributaries, such as Padma River (name of main channel of Ganges in Ban gladesh) and Teesta River, have upstream dams in India. The proposed Ganges Barrage Project on Padma River in Bangladesh was abandoned in 2017 due to the lack of return on investment and high cost in excess of US$5 billion.

Bibliography

  • Rudra, Kalyan (2018). Rivers of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta: A Fluvial Account of Bengal. Springer. ISBN 9783319765440.
  • Sarma, AK (2013). "Hydraulic Structures". In Singh, V.P.; Sharma, Nayan; Ojha, C. Shekhar P. (eds.). The Brahmaputra Basin Water Resources. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9789401705400.