Tag: Burma Rivers
Save the Irrawaddy-video
The Irrawaddy River is a source of livelihood for millions of Burmese. They depend on the river for fishing, agriculture and navigation. There are new dam and gold mine projects as well as severe deforestations that are taking place around the Irrawaddy river, and environmentalists are crying out.
Save the Irrawaddy,July 8, 2011-bur
Hutgyi hydro project back on track
Myanmar Times
By Thomas Kean
(Volume 26, No. 521)
A HYDROPOWER project in eastern Myanmar appears to be back on track after a new Memorandum of Agreement – four and a half years after the original – was signed on April 24 in Nay Pyi Taw.
The MoA for the Hutgyi project was signed by the Department of Hydropower Planning, under the Ministry of Electric Power (1), China’s SinoHydro Corporation, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) International and local firm International Group of Entrepreneur at the ministry building, state media reported last week.
The 1360-megawatt (MW) Hutgyi dam will be built in Kayin State along the Than Lwin River; the cost is tipped at more than US$1 billion.
In December 2005, EGAT signed an agreement with the department to develop the project. Chinese company SinoHydro later joined the consortium in June 2006.
The dam will comprise eight 170MW turbines, according to SinoHydro, who is providing most of the financing for the project.
A feasibility study and detailed design report were completed in August and September 2007 respectively but construction work is still yet to get underway. Last week’s report did not give an expected completion date for the project. The dam was originally expected to begin generating electricity in 2015 or 2016.
Kachins in New Delhi protest Irrawaddy dam construction in Burma
Kachin residents and activists of the Burmese community in New Delhi, India today staged a protest at Juntar Mantar Park yet again against the construction of dams around the Irrawaddy River in Kachin State by a Chinese company.
Marking the International Day of Action for Rivers on March 14, Burmese people in exile wanted China to listen to wishes of the people and stop the construction of the hydro power projects, which will destroy the ecology and the environment of Kachin State and threaten the lives of thousands of people.
The China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) is handling the construction with finance, technical knowhow and skilled work force from mainland China.
Min Thang, in charge of Zomi National Congress (ZNC-LA) liberated Area said at the protest rally that the “Military rulers are getting money from these projects to strengthen the army to oppress people.”
“All people from Burma should rally against it and must be made aware how the dams are going to affect people dependant on agriculture,” said Min Htang. Continue reading “Kachins in New Delhi protest Irrawaddy dam construction in Burma”
Govt urged to scrap Mekong dam plans
Monday, 15 March 2010 00:00
Bangkok Post
People living along the Mekong River want the government to scrap its plans to build dams, to help safeguard the river from further exploitation.
“Experience and scientific evidence show there is no way to heal environmental and social damage caused by mega-dams,” the Mekong People Network said in a statement yesterday to mark International Day of Action for Rivers.
“The dams will destroy our food sources and bring severe droughts to the river,” the residents said.
The government plans to build two dams on the mainstream Mekong River – Ban Koum dam in Ubon Ratchathani, and Pak Chom dam in Loei.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut said the ministry also planned water gates on the Mekong tributaries to save water for agricultural purposes instead of letting it flow into the Mekong River.
“The government must stop using the drought to justify its plan to build more dams, which have proved they can overcome neither droughts nor flooding,” the villagers said. Continue reading “Govt urged to scrap Mekong dam plans”
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