Hydro

Hydro-electricity plant construction postponed

The project to build a hydro-powered electricity plant on the Namteng, a tributary of the Salween, had been shelved for at least five years, reported sources from southern Shan State. 

The decision came after 62 people (19 Chinese, 21 Burmese civilians and 22 Burmese soldiers) who were on the project died with in a span of one month, they said. 

The 300-men team, made up of 34 Chinese engineers, 80 Burmese workers and 200 security troops arrived at Zong-arng Waterfalls, 9 miles south of Kengtawng, Mongnai township, on 4 November. The Chinese party was led by a "Mr. Cheng", about 54 years old. 

"For two weeks they were busy erecting their lodgings and a warehouse for their machines and tools," said a source. "All of us villagers in the area were involved in the construction. Only the Burmese workers built their own quarters." 

On 19 November, the first day of their work in the water, one of the Chinese slipped and broke his head on a rock. He died instantly. Two of the Burmese party also met the same fate when their boat capsized. From 19 November- 10 December, many of them were subject to attacks of malaria and diarrhea. On 12 December, all of them boarded on trucks and left. 
Col Khin Maung Myint, the area commander, later told headmen in Kengtawng that the project had been put off for another five years. 

The other project at the Fahpa Waterfalls on the Teng Kawn, a branch of the Namteng', was also scrapped because there was "too much water during the monsoons and too little water during the dry season," they said. A Burmese survey team led by U Thaung Htun was there on 12 August. [Re: # 08 - 17 A new hydro-electricity plant to be built near the Salween] 
Zong-arng is the biggest waterfall in Shan State. The second biggest is Ompu on the Namparng, in Monghsu. 

"At least, the gods have not forsaken us," said a source, who requested anonymity, because his close relatives would be in trouble if he was identified.