According to a media report, Chinese security officials have detained over 100 Tibetan Buddhist monks and residents in the southwestern Sichuan province. The arrests were made to suppress protests against the construction of a large dam that would inundate six Buddhist monasteries and necessitate the relocation of two villages.

Since February 14, residents of Wangbuding Township in Dege County, located in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, have taken to the streets in rare defiance to oppose the proposed construction of the 2,240-megawatt Gangtuo hydropower station on the Drichu River.

Radio Free Asia reported that the dam is situated on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, which is one of China's most crucial waterways. The protests began when at least 300 Tibetans gathered outside the Dege County town hall to express opposition to the dam's construction.

These protests defied strict controls on public gatherings and extensive surveillance by authorities in the Sichuan and Tibet regions. The detentions took place in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, an area with a significant population of ethnic Tibetans.

According to the report, some arrested protesters required hospitalization due to rough treatment. Police employed water cannons, pepper spray, and tasers to subdue them. Videos depicted monks pleading with officials during inspections of Yena and Wonto monasteries, urging them not to proceed with demolition.

The Yebatan hydropower station, valued at USD 4.6 billion, reached a significant milestone by surpassing 100 meters in December last year, as reported by the state-run Global Times.

The power station's total installed capacity is expected to reach 2,240 megawatts upon completion, with a maximum dam height of 217 meters, making it the tallest hyperbolic arch dam project under construction in China.

The locals protesting the dam are particularly distressed as it would lead to the destruction of six monasteries, including the ancient Wonto Monastery with murals dating back to the 13th century, according to the RFA report.

The construction of the Gangtuo hydropower dam will necessitate the resettlement of Upper Wonto and Shipa villages, along with several monasteries including Yena, Wonto, Khardho, Rabten, Gonsar, and Tashi, as per the RFA report.

The Wonto and Yena monasteries, holding significant cultural and religious value, house approximately 300 monks combined. Despite severe damage during the Cultural Revolution, efforts to restore the Wonto Monastery began in 1983, preserving its ancient murals. The exact number of monks residing in the four other affected monasteries remains unknown.

About 2,000 villagers will be displaced by the dam project. When questioned about the protests, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning refrained from commenting, stating it wasn't a diplomatic matter. Tibet often referred to as the "Roof of the World," is the source of major rivers like the Brahmaputra, Indus, and Yangtse.

China is intensifying efforts to construct large-scale hydropower projects in Tibet, including the world's largest hydroelectric dam on the Brahmaputra River near the Arunachal Pradesh border. This ambitious project, situated in Medog County, Tibet, has drawn concerns from India and Bangladesh, the downstream nations.

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