Environment groups oppose dam projects on Salween river

 

 

Ethnic Shan environmental and human rights advocacy organizations have voiced strong opposition to planned construction of hydropower dams on the Salween river, accusing the Burmese government of “quietly selling off” the Salween river to China, The Irrawaddy Online reported on Tuesday.

 

The Shan groups noted that the dam projects on the Salween river receive attention compared to those on the Irrawaddy river such as the Myitsone dam in Kachin state. They are afraid that the projects will be implemented without proper studies on their social and environmental impacts.

 

Ethnic Shan environmentalist Sai Khur Hseng told The Irrawaddy the government has decided that the Salween dams are necessary in order to meet electricity demands despite reports which estimate that up to 90 percent of the electricity generated will be exported to China and other neighboring countries.

 

China’s state-owned Hydrochina has, in recent months, proceeded with construction plans to build the 1,200 megawatts Naung Pha dam on the Salween river.

 

Sai Khur Hseng said if the Naung Pha dam is completed, villages in Ho Pang and Tanyan township which has been flooded every year will face worse flooding.

 

The groups said in a statement issued Tuesday that Australia’s Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation has been conducting environmental and social impact assessment in secrecy for the dam project.

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/environment-groups-oppose-dam-projects-salween-river/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-08-24

Yet another  country selling out to China, how sad.