Building Salween dam likely next year

Building Salween dam likely next year

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.