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Building Salween dam likely next year

ข้อมูลจากสำนักข่าว S.H.A.N   22  JANUARY 2003

Environment

A representative of the Wa-connected Thai firm disclosed to S.H.A.N. yesterday that construction of the megadam on the Shan State's part of the Salween is expected to be constructed by the next year.

"Things don't move that fast," said the businessman from Thai Sawad Company, who did not care to be identified, in response to news about dam construction materials to be moved across the border to Tasarng, 160 km from Chiangmai's Chiangdao District, next week.

He explained the MDX, the company that had signed the agreement with Rangoon last month, would be inviting tenders from construction firms one of which would be accepted by the end of the year. "In the meantime, we have been contracted to build a road from Tasarng to the dam site, about 15 km long," he said.

Asked where he thought the funds would come, he replied he had no idea. "We concluded the agreement for the road construction on Monday (20 January). Normally we expected a 20% advance payment for our expenses. But the MDX said it would be able to pay us only 5%".

Thai Sawad, whose managing director, Somkid Onman "Sia Ord" is reputed as being close to drug fugitive Wei Hsuehgang of the United Wa State Army, is due to ship materials that included cement, steel wires and fuel for road and drainage construction next Monday (27 January).

Meanwhile, the Thailand-based MDX, chaired by former minister Dr Subin Pinkayan, is reported to be concerned about the possible counteraction from the Shan State Army that is known to be active in the area. "They are not going to get any loans if the group says no to the project," he said.

The SSA spokeswoman, Khurhsen Heng-awn, previously told S.H.A.N. the people affected by the project would have to be asked whether or not they wanted the dam.

A meeting in 1999 of Shan monks and representatives from several organizations had already resolved to oppose the project, according to Sao Seng Suk, spokesperson for the Shan Democratic Union, the umbrella organization of Shan groups in exile.

20 February 2003

Dam in Karen State will still flood Shan State

The choice dam site of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand in Karen State will still inundate parts of Karenni and Shan states upstream, according to an informed source from Thailand-based environmental group today.

"The back flood from Weigyi, between Thailand's Maehongson Province and Burma's Karen State, will go as far as 380-400 km to the north," said the source, reporting on the presentation given to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 12 February, by EGAT governor, Sitthiporn Rattanopas.

Weigyi "Great Whirlpool", after completion, will be 168 meters high, with a generating capacity of 4,540 MW at an estimated cost of US$ 6 billion.

Terra (Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance) meanwhile says the reservoir, with a normal high water level of 220 meters will be inundating 15,000 - 20,000 acres of land that will displace thousands of people including residents of Bawlake and Hpahsawng in Karenni a.k.a Kayah State.

The extent of the damage, however, remains to be investigated, though the EGAT paper promises probable destruction of thousands of acres of forest areas on both sides of the Salween.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, has already confirmed since Burma's Independence Day, 4 January, that it is firmly against foreign investments until substantive talks between the Opposition and military rulers are in place.

Shans, Karens and Karennis have also voiced their condemnations on the dam projects since 1993.

The Weigyi dam nonetheless still requires official approval from Rangoon, that had already signed an agreement with Thai-based MDX Group last December to construct a 3,300 megawatt dam at Shan State's Tasarng, 400 km upstream. 

 
 

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