Burmese Language
Swiss-backed dam ‘to displace 8,000’
More than 20 villages in southwestern Shan state are facing the threat of impending flood and forced relocation due a hydropower project being built with the help of Swiss and British firms.
The Upper Paunglaung dam on the eponymous river that cuts through eastern Burma could submerge the homes of around 8000 people in the planned 61-square kilometre reservoir, according to a new report released by the Kayan New Generation Youth.
“Households will be forced to flatten their homes and abandon their farm fields, receiving in return just $US50 in compensation,” it said. Mu Moe Lay, of the KNGY, told a press conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand, today that no help would be given for the relocation, with the deadline set of October this year.
Aiding the planning and construction of the dam is the Swiss-based AF-Colenco Ltd, which will design and oversee the project, and UK-based Malcolm Dunstan and Associates, which has already been heavily criticised for its involvement in the Tasang dam, the largest of 48 dams in Burma.
“This project shows that whether from Europe or Asia, companies are willing to toss aside proper standards when working in Burma,” said Mu Moe Lay.
Security for the Upper Paunglaung dam has been handed over to the Burmese army, whom the report says has employed the use of forced labour in the seven years since construction began. Mu Moe Lay said that troops from the local New Kayan State Party militia have been told to leave to make way for government soldiers.
China’s Exim Bank and the Yunnan Machinery and Export Company have also provided capital and machinery for the project, one of nearly 40 hydropower developments in Burma that Beijing is playing a significant role in.
Sai Sai, from the pressure group Burma Rivers Network, said that most of the electricity generated from these projects are sold to neighbouring countries and are of little benefit for local populations. The Upper Paunglaung dam, which is located only 50 kilometres from the Burmese capital, Naypyidaw, will produce 140 megawatts of electricity.
Tags: burma, china, hydropower, myanmar
Comments
Other Environment, News Stories
- Farmers square off with parliamentarian’s company
- Pipeline, rubber plantation responsible for pollution
- Four killed in Irrawaddy ferry accident
- Climate change threatens Burma
- Mining sullies river in Kachin state
- Chinese companies ‘overexploiting’ jade mines
- Coal plant stirs unease in southern Burma
DVB TV
MPs returned to Parliament in Burma’s capital Naypyidaw
MOST READ STORIES
You need to log in to vote
The blog owner requires users to be logged in to be able to vote for this post.
Alternatively, if you do not have an account yet you can create one here.
Powered by Vote It Up
The Swiss are serious about good business practices in international banking.. Recently they froze accounts of Chief Minister of Malaysian State of Sarawak which is on island of Borneo. Forests had been cleared and the first of 12 dams built flooding about 70km sq of land with little benefit to or say so from the people of the land and the assets apparently hidden with offshore investments. I don’t know how that’s going to turn out but the world is starting to wise up about what affects local people and constitutes good business practices and how that affects the environment and everything. No people should have themselves reduced to living in a free enterprise zone or sacrifice zone that benefits an out of control world economy gone haywire.
Hopefully things can change so the people of Burma and their needs, your needs are seen as important to the people of the world.. I know some are looking and trying to somehow create the answers to get things going in the right direction for a change.
The environment is going to put the big crunch on everybody pretty soon and things have to turn around.