Tipaimukh Dam Project

The Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Dam Project is a proposed large-scale dam intended to be constructed on the Barak River at Sipuikawn (Tipaimukh) in the state of Manipur, India. The project aims to achieve dual objectives of flood control and hydroelectric power generation. Approved by the Government of India in 1999, the project was initially managed by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) before being transferred to NHPC Limited. However, due to environmental concerns, opposition from local communities, and apprehensions in Bangladesh regarding transboundary water impacts, the dam remains under prolonged discussion without commencement of construction.

Historical Background

The conceptualisation of a dam on the Barak River dates back to 1926, during the British colonial period, when authorities explored the idea of controlling floods in the Cachar plains of Assam. After independence, discussions about a barrage on the Barak River resurfaced in the 1972 meeting of the India–Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission, where Bangladesh initially expressed tentative support with certain modifications proposed in 1974.
By 1981, India presented detailed technical studies and explorations on the Tipaimukh site, though Bangladesh’s participation in the dialogue remained inconsistent. The project was formally approved in 1999, envisioning a 163-metre-high multipurpose dam to serve both flood moderation and power generation needs.
NEEPCO conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) between 2006 and 2007. Later, in 2011, a joint venture company was formed comprising NHPC Limited, the Government of Manipur, and Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN). During this phase, Bangladesh raised fresh concerns regarding potential downstream effects, prompting renewed bilateral consultations that continue to delay the project’s execution.

Geographical Location

The proposed dam site lies on the Barak River, which originates in northern Manipur and flows southwestward until Tipaimukh in the Pherzawl district. At Tipaimukh, the Tuivai River, flowing from the south, joins the Barak approximately 500 metres upstream from the proposed dam location. Beyond Tipaimukh, the Barak turns northwards towards Jirimukh, where it bends west into Assam, marking part of the boundary between Manipur and Mizoram.
The 2007 Environmental Impact Assessment projected that the dam’s reservoir would submerge a total area of 291.5 square kilometres, including 275.5 square kilometres in Manipur and 16 square kilometres in Mizoram. The region’s topography and ecological richness make it one of the most environmentally sensitive zones in India’s Northeast.

Technical Features

The Tipaimukh Dam is designed to be a concrete gravity structure with a length of 390 metres and a height of 162.8 metres, resting on a base elevation of 18 metres above mean sea level. The crest elevation is projected to reach 180 metres above mean sea level, with a full reservoir level of 175 metres and a maximum reservoir level of 178 metres.
The hydroelectric component of the project will comprise six Francis-type turbine generators, each with a capacity of 250 MW, bringing the total installed generation capacity to 1500 MW. This power output is intended to supplement electricity supply in the northeastern states and contribute to the regional grid, while also providing flood regulation benefits for the Barak Valley.

Environmental and Social Impact

Upstream Impact: The reservoir is expected to submerge approximately 291.5 square kilometres, encompassing reserved forest areas, agricultural lands, and human settlements. According to the official EIA report (2007), around 12 villages with 313 households and 2,027 people would be directly displaced. Independent assessments, however, suggest that as many as 90 villages and over 1,300 families could be affected.
The submergence zone is home to indigenous communities such as the Hmar (a section of the Kuki–Zo tribes) and the Zeliangrong Nagas. Both groups depend heavily on shifting (jhum) cultivation, wet rice fields, and forest resources. They have voiced strong opposition to the dam, citing threats to their traditional livelihoods, cultural heritage, and ecological stability. Environmentalists have also warned that the loss of dense forest cover could accelerate soil erosion, disrupt biodiversity, and affect the microclimate of the region.
Downstream Impact: The Barak River is an important transboundary watercourse shared by India and Bangladesh. Upon entering Bangladesh, the river bifurcates into the Surma and Kushiyara rivers, which later merge into the Meghna River before joining the Ganges Delta. This river system sustains the vast haor wetlands of Bangladesh, particularly in the Sylhet Division, where seasonal flooding supports both fisheries and rice cultivation.
Bangladesh fears that alterations in the river’s flow regime could affect the timing and extent of flooding in these wetlands. Reduced dry-season flow may hinder irrigation and fish breeding, while excessive retention of water during winter could shorten the cultivation period in the haor basins. The Tanguar Haor, one of Bangladesh’s best-known wetland ecosystems supporting nearly 60,000 people, is often cited as being particularly vulnerable.
While some studies suggest that the Tipaimukh Dam’s influence on dry-season water supply might be limited—since only about 19% of the haor water originates from the upstream Barak segment—the apprehensions persist due to uncertainty over dam operations and the possibility of transboundary environmental consequences.
Additionally, the dam site lies within a seismically active zone, raising concerns about the structural safety of the reservoir in the event of a major earthquake. A catastrophic failure, experts warn, could pose a grave threat to densely populated downstream regions in both India and Bangladesh.

Diplomatic and Political Controversies

The Tipaimukh project has emerged as a point of contention in India–Bangladesh water diplomacy. Bangladeshi experts and environmental groups have criticised the proposal, arguing that it could disrupt the seasonal rhythm of the Barak–Meghna river system, affecting agriculture, fisheries, and ecosystems downstream.
In response to growing concerns, the Government of Bangladesh decided to dispatch a technical delegation to assess the site’s characteristics and potential impacts. Following bilateral consultations, both governments agreed in 2013 to delay the project by two years, allowing Bangladesh to conduct further environmental and hydrological studies.
Within India, local opposition has also been strong, particularly from the Hmar Students’ Association and several civil society organisations in Manipur and Mizoram, who argue that the dam’s construction would violate indigenous rights and threaten biodiversity hotspots.

Current Status and Prospects

As of now, no physical construction has taken place at the Tipaimukh site. The project continues to face scrutiny from environmentalists, tribal organisations, and international observers. The Government of India maintains that the dam is intended primarily for flood control and renewable energy generation, not for irrigation or diversion of river waters, and that all concerns raised by Bangladesh will be addressed through dialogue.
Future progress will likely depend on achieving a bilaterally acceptable framework under the India–Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission and on implementing stringent environmental safeguards. The Tipaimukh Dam remains emblematic of the complex interplay between developmental aspirations, ecological preservation, and regional cooperation in South Asia’s river basin management.