India’s Tipaimukh Dam plan, built on the river Barak, which bifurcates into two streams as it enters Bangladesh as the rivers Surma and Kushiara, has been on the drawing board for nearly 40 years. According to the implementing agency, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation, this dam would have an installed capacity of 1,500MW of electricity. Efforts were made in the past to get the World Bank or JBIC to back the project, but their involvement is still elusive. It is costing India Rs 68 billion— an escalation from the earlier estimated expenditure of Rs 52 billion.

Negative impacts of large dams are very widely known around the world. A detailed study by the World Dam Commission published in 2000 says adverse impacts of any large dams are irreversible for the lower riparian region. The study after reviewing 1,000 dams from 79 countries concludes in its report: “The environmental impacts of dams are more negative than positive ones and in many cases dams have led to irreversible loss of species and ecosystems.”

As details of this project have not been released, assumptions of possible effects are varying. But one thing is for certain that the risk of flood in Bangladesh will increase. And the water bodies in North-Western Bangladesh will be overflowing even during the winter season. Most importantly, surface irrigation will be in danger and agriculture and livelihoods in the downstream area will be adversely affected. Any major accident will have catastrophic impact on the region, in both Bangladesh and India.

At this stage, what actions and programs are meaningful for Bangladesh? Can India be persuaded to abandon dam projects on international rivers in favor of alternative options for energy need?