Dam on the Irrawaddy: No more rice bowl for Burma, say activists

No.13 - 10/2007
22 October 2007
Environment

Dam on the Irrawaddy
No more rice bowl for Burma, say activists
 
Not only will the 10,505 people in the Kachin State be the only losers at the completion of the dam on the Irrawaddy, Burma’s principal river, but at least a population over 3 million at its delta where 60% of Burma’s rice is being produced will be badly affected, according to a report which was launched today by the Chiangmai-based Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG).
 
The 60-page Damming the Irrawaddy, the 3,600 MW dam at the Myitsone, where the Mali Hka and N’Maikha join to become the Irrawaddy, will also inundate 47 villages, perpetuate unfair development programs, intensify militarization and aggravate other existing problems such as environmental and social impacts, drug addictions, sexual violence and other rights abuses.
 
Besides the dam site is less than 100km from the highly sensitive Sagaing fault line that runs north-south through Burma. Earthquakes have  been experienced along the fault system. “Conversely, there are also cases where large dams can trigger earthquakes,” says the report, quoting a study in 2001.
 
The people of Kachin State had already demanded the cessation of all dam activities on 9 September, said Naw La, a co-researcher for the report.
 
The 152 meter tall dam, located just 45km north of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina, is being constructed by Chinese companies, following project-launching ceremony on 1 May. It was attended by Burma’s Asia World Company and China’s China Power Investment Cooperation (CPI).
 
“Everything the Burma Army does is not for the people, only for itself,” said Yawna, a KDNG member.
 
The report has instead proposed a small hydropower (SHP) system which is an environmentally-friendly source for energy generation.
 
A series of dams are also being planned on another river the Salween that flows through 4 states: Shan, Karenni (Kayah), Karen and Mon. Reports by other activist groups say more than 113,000 people have been displaced and another 570,000 – 533,465 at the delta in Mon State alone – will lose their homes and livelihoods forever on completion and set off migration to neighboring countries, especially Thailand.

 

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