Mabja Zangbo River

Mabja Zangbo River

#GS-01 Geography, #GS-02 International Relations, #GS-03 Internal Security

For Prelims

Mabja Zangbo

  • Mabja Zangbo or Mabja Tsangpo is a river which originates in the western part of Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
  • It flows through Nepal into the Ghaghara river before joining the Ganga in India.
  • Since 2021, China has been constructing a dam on the Mabja Zangbo river in a location just a few kilometres north of the Kalapani tri-junction border with India and Nepal.
  • With this project, China can gain control over water in the entire region and can utilise it in case of rising tensions in the future.
  • In addition to using water as leverage, another major threat is the possibility of a military establishment by China near the tri-junction.
  • Another advantage is that the dams close to the border could be used by China to strengthen its claim on the disputed areas in the region.
  • China could use this dam to not only divert but also store water which could lead to a scarcity in the regions dependent on the Mabja Zangbo river.
  • This in turn could lead to lower water levels in rivers such as the Ghaghara and the Karnali in Nepal.

Source “‘China building new dam in Tibet near Indian border’

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