India’s Worrying Plans for Dams on Transboundary Rivers Shared with Bangladesh

Why It Matters

The developments threaten water security and ecological stability for Bangladesh while straining India‑Bangladesh relations, highlighting the need for robust cross‑border water governance.

Key Takeaways

• Meghalaya advancing seven new hydro projects on Myntdu and Kynshi rivers.
• Stage II Myntdu‑Leshka (210 MW) DPR completed; financing under discussion.
• Cascading run‑of‑river dams could alter flow, increase erosion and landslides.
• Bangladesh fears reduced water, fish loss, and flood risk downstream.
• Experts call for cumulative impact assessments amid climate‑driven flood spikes.

Pulse Analysis

Meghalaya’s renewed hydro agenda reflects India’s broader strategy to meet rising electricity demand through renewable sources. Since its 2024 power‑policy overhaul, the state has earmarked over 350 MW of new capacity, with the Myntdu‑Leshka Stage II project now moving from planning to financing. The scheme, like earlier run‑of‑river installations, diverts water through tunnels before releasing it downstream, a model touted as low‑impact but increasingly scrutinized when multiple projects sit in cascade. The state’s push aligns with national goals to expand clean energy, yet the rapid rollout raises questions about environmental permitting and long‑term river health.

The Myntdu and Kynshi rivers flow directly into Bangladesh’s Meghna basin, making any upstream alteration a transboundary concern. Bangladeshi stakeholders point to potential reductions in water volume during dry months, jeopardizing irrigation, fisheries—particularly the prized Hilsa—and flood‑control mechanisms downstream. Moreover, the cumulative effect of sequential run‑of‑river dams can strip sediment, accelerate bank erosion, and trigger landslides in the hilly catchment, amplifying the region’s vulnerability to the four‑fold rise in extreme rain events recorded in recent years. Local communities in Meghalaya already report altered currents, agricultural damage, and pollution incidents linked to earlier phases, underscoring the social dimension of the hydropower push.

In the geopolitical arena, the projects test the resilience of the India‑Bangladesh Joint River Commission, which has struggled to reconcile West Bengal’s opposition to Teesta water sharing with Bangladesh’s demand for equitable flow. Independent experts and NGOs urge comprehensive cumulative‑impact assessments and transparent data sharing before further construction. As climate change intensifies hydrological volatility, a coordinated basin‑wide management framework becomes essential to balance energy aspirations with water security, biodiversity preservation, and regional stability.