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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Conservation 自然保育 >>  Nu River Dam Plans   怒江水電工程
        
(Message started by: HKBWS Project on Sep 9^th, 2005, 4:23pm)

Title: Nu River Dam Plans 怒江水電工程
Post by HKBWS Project on Sep 9^th, 2005, 4:23pm

Nu River Dam Plans

Kelly Haggart
September 7, 2005

Dozens of Chinese environmental groups and close to 100 concerned experts have joined forces to publish a dramatic open letter urging the government to release documents related to secretive plans to dam the Nu River in southwest China.

The forceful statement, signed by 61 organizations and 99 individuals, argues that the environmental impact assessment that apparently has been completed for the controversial Nu River project must be made available for public scrutiny, in accordance with Chinese law.

"We sincerely call on the decision-making authorities to disclose the EIA report of the Nu River dam plans before making a decision, because the right to be informed is a prerequisite for public participation,"
they write, and cite Chinese law that requires public input into project planning.

 "Dam building in an area of high mountains, deep valleys and extremely poor farmland threatens the livelihoods and future of tens of thousands of people," the authors of the letter warn.

But amid the secrecy surrounding the Nu River plans, "there is no way for the public to learn how the developers and local government will avoid environmental damage, how they plan to carry out the resettlement of 50,000 people, and how they will assure the safety and economic feasibility of the dams."

Noting that 92 per cent of the local population belongs to minority groups, they authors observe that, "once resettlement starts, the loss of cultural diversity is inevitable."

More information:
www.ThreeGorgesProbe.org
(bilingual)