Science

Himalayan Hydropower Timeline 1960-2026: India, Nepal, Dams & Flood Risks

Himalayan hydropower projects are becoming riskier because dams, tunnels, roads and transmission lines are being built in young, fragile mountains exposed to e…

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INDUS TREATY 1960

Indus Waters Treaty Sets the Legal Frame

India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty on September 19, 1960, brokered by the World Bank, dividing rights over the Indus basin's six rivers and shaping India'…

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50,000 MW INITIATIVE 2003

India's 50,000 MW Hydro Initiative Launched

India's government launched the 50,000 MW Hydroelectric Initiative on May 24, 2003, identifying 162 projects across 16 states, with Arunachal Pradesh accounting for the…

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TEHRI COMMISSIONED 2006

Tehri Dam Becomes a Himalayan Megaproject Symbol

The first 1,000 MW stage of the 260-metre Tehri Dam on the Bhagirathi river was commissioned in 2006 after decades of protest and delay, becoming a symbol of both Himala…

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ZANGMU DAM 2014

China Operates Zangmu Dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo

China commissioned the first generating unit of the 510 MW Zangmu Dam in November 2014, the first large-scale hydropower station on the main stem of the Yarlung Tsangpo,…

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SUPER-DAM PLAN 2021

China's Lower Yarlung Tsangpo Super-Dam Plan Enters the Spotlight

China's 14th Five-Year Plan included hydropower development on the lower Yarlung Tsangpo; construction of the ~60 GW Medog project began in July 2025 after December 2024…

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TEESTA III COLLAPSE 2023

Teesta III Collapse Becomes a Turning Point

A South Lhonak glacial lake outburst flood destroyed the 1,200 MW Teesta III dam on October 4, 2023, killing 129 people and damaging infrastructure across 385 km, accord…

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10,000 MW DEAL 2024

India and Nepal Sign 10,000 MW Power Trade Agreement

India and Nepal signed a 25-year, auto-renewing power trade agreement on January 4, 2024, committing Nepal to export 10,000 MW of hydroelectricity to India over the foll…

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GLACIER FLOOD 2026

Nepal-Tibet Glacier Collapse Exposes Infrastructure Risk

A Langtang Lirung glacier collapse on August 26, 2026 triggered a debris flow that killed over 1,280 people in Nepal and 31 in Tibet, trapped 900+ hydropower workers, an…

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