BRI and the peril of disturbing the Himalayas
Summary
The Belt and Road Initiative is portrayed as a geopolitical and environmental threat to Nepal, with large infrastructure projects seen as destabilizing fragile Himalayan slopes, rivers and valleys. The piece warns that hydropower, roads and the proposed Kyirong–Kathmandu railway could intensify landslides, floods and long-term strategic dependence.
Key Points
- China’s Belt and Road Initiative is described as an ambitious project that could deepen Nepal’s dependence on Beijing while stressing fragile Himalayan terrain.
- The article cites the 26 August 2026 Rasuwa Ice–Rock Avalanche and Flash Flood as a warning of the destructive power of mountain instability.
- Hydropower plants, roads and the proposed Kyirong–Kathmandu railway are said to increase landslide, erosion and seismic risks across Nepal.
- The author argues that environmental security in the Himalayas is essential to Nepal’s sovereignty and long-term survival.
