Shan organizations concerned over future dam projects

Description

Shan organizations met in a public meeting in March 2014 expressing concerns about the negative impacts on the environment and nearby villages of the dam projects of Nawng Pha on the Salween river and Mann Taung on the Nam Ma river. Over 100 people from 10 villages situated about 30-40 miles from the dam projects were invited to attend the meeting, but villages close to the projects and likely to suffer the most negative impacts from the dam projects were not invited to participate. Villagers were told that Hydrochina Corporation had signed an agreement with the Ministry of Electricity for a 40-year concession for the hydropower projects, and it was promised that impacted villagers would be provided with new houses, schools, healthcare centers, roads, and farmlands, which would ensure better living standards.