China’s Tibet autonomous region, the Himalayan wonderland, is known globally for its rich natural endowments. Abundant water resources, and resultant hydropower potential, present one such gift of nature.

Zangnan, or southern Tibet, is no exception even though part of which India has illegally occupied, given a pseudo status and included into so-called Arunachal Pradesh state.

However, while the water-wealth of Tibet is being harnessed keeping in view the requirements of sustainable development and ecological needs of future generations, the same in Zangnan remains a sorry tale of political misunderstanding and shortsightedness of New Delhi. 

After decades-long delays, controversies, objections and agitations, India’s Union Government and Zangnan’s current authorities have once again joined hands to give another new push to hydropower development.

Reportedly, a total of 12 stalled hydroelectric projects with a cumulative capacity of 11,517 MW have been allotted to public sector undertakings, the name given to State-owned enterprises in India. Out of these, five projects of 2,620 MW have been assigned to North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd, five projects of 5,097 MW to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd and the remaining two projects of capacity 3,800 MW to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. These are expected to cost about ₹126,500 Crores (about $15 billion in current exchange rate.)

Over the years, the total of aforementioned projects and others coming to a whooping 150 have faced a number of roadblocks. Environmentalists have raised voices that these projects will be wiping away of a large part of forest cover, would result in un-natural change of course of rivers and their tributaries, possibilities of flash floods would multiply, and damages to natural habitats and biodiversity to become rampant.

Considering that terrain is highly landslides-prone, experts believe that such large-scale hydro projects are major danger not only to what is called Arunachal Pradesh itself, but also to downstream states particularly Assam. Many projects still have not got clearance in terms of Environmental Impact Assessment.

Local communities that have been displaced or fear displacement in future have also registered their protests and agitation on a number of occasions. Militants’ activities against these projects are far-fetched but cannot be ruled out. It also remains as a pressing question whether relevant Indian institutions if able to arrange funds needed for the projects.

The reality is that Zangnan is not in any natural geographic harmony with Indian territory. It sits as a remote, isolated and disconnected “state” – a state only on the map. Therefore, transmission lines from project sites to population centers and economic hubs where the power generated would actually be used, if at all, also remains a perplexing preposition.

Why does New Delhi and their partners in "state"-level administration are pushing at this point of time? Simplistically, part of the answer lies in conventional wisdom: a growing Indian economy and prospering society needs more electric power, much more than presently available and any government in India has to tap all the resources and avenues available.

But India is going into next general elections nationwide in about half a year. So, the ruling party BJP needs to show “progress” at mega scale. The occupied territory has only a small share of seats in India’s Lok Sabha, or lower house of the parliament that makes central government.

What matters is to show that “we are going big, for the future of India” as stated by the administration. The country also has this objective of showcasing to the world that it is moving ahead in a big way in terms of green energies and planning for future as a low carbon emitting country. This writer has repeatedly pointed out: “Climate Change is real, Climate Action is fake.”

Strategic objectives overweigh! As is well-known, the North East of India has a lot of resentments towards the capital Center, and such big projects attracting big investments also garner sympathies for India in the “seven sisters” – the North Eastern states.

Ironically, this large-scale drive is also a tool to pinch and try to antagonize China with a message from India that “we are doing it, and we do not care how you think.” Particularly so after China’s third phased issuance of actual names of rivers, mountains and towns of the area; along with Beijing publishing map with Zangnan as its legitimate territory.

Positive it is to note that Beijing, despite these proactive moves, continues to tread ahead carefully, as per law and rules governing sovereignty.

It is not unlikely that if BJP wins again, the current level of enthusiasm for hydroelectric projects in the occupied land would slow down, post re-election. In the nutshell, India’s renewed push for the projects in so-called AP still has to see many ups and downs; it will not necessarily be a smooth ride.

Indian policymakers must realize a false sense of development does not change the reality that where does Zangnan actually belong to, and where its future lies. Political gimmickry does not go far.

The author is founding president of the Eurasian Century Institute (ECI), Islamabad-Pakistan.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.