The Vietnamese government expects to complete all major hydropower dams by 2015, as revealed by the Government’s Special Advisor on Dams and Hydropower.15 The final major project will be the Lai Chau hydropower plant. Because of concerns about how the relocation was being handled as well as its location in a earthquake zone, the National Assembly delayed action for several years before finally giving the go-ahead in December 2002.10, This requirement, however, does not prevent instances from occurring, in which investors, contractors, and provincial authorities eager to move projects forward, may have incentives to underestimate the number of people who will be seriously affected by the projects and thus require relocation.11 In one example, the water level of a hydropower dam was miscalculated, causing an overflow that damaged 70 households in Kon Tum province.12 In another incident, the Provincial authority of Tuyen Quang and investors in a hydropower project underestimated the number of residents requiring relocation as a consequence of a dam’s construction.13 This is, however, only part of a bigger problem, which is a lack of transparency that may frustrate any accurate assessments of the negative impacts of a hydropower project and thus render ineffective the measures intended to address them. As is generally the case with the government’s bureaucratic operations, the national electricity strategy was likely drafted by the state-owned Electricity Corporation of Vietnam (EVN) – the sole provider of electricity in the country – under the Ministry of Industry (now the Ministry of Industry and Commerce). Since then, Vietnam has improved its EIAs somewhat and also consulted with Cambodia about how to mitigate downstream impacts, especially unanticipated releases of water.2 It should be noted however, that Vietnam is still pushing to complete scores of dam projects in the Central Highlands, turning the region into the country’s largest hydropower source by 2010.3, Cooperation to protect the environment in the Mekong River Basin between Vietnam and its neighboring riparian countries, however, may pale in comparison with their cooperation on industrial development. “That’s usually fossil fuels.”. As the Chairman of the Vietnamese Association of Construction and Environment charged, in the Son La hydropower project, there seemed to be a lack of transparency in the way the relocation task was handled only by EVN and provincial leaders.14. Research published in April in the journal Science said the West is in the midst of a historic “megadrought” caused by natural climate cycles and human-caused warming. There is little evidence of a broad discussion prior to the adoption of the national strategy involving substantial inputs from other actors who might advocate for a more environmentally friendly approach to the issue of energy security, including the civil society, NGOs, development think-tanks and the domestic press. This is especially the case after the government decided to allow private investors to finance “independent” small-scale hydropower projects. As estimated by EVN, by the end of 2007 there were more than 200 completed, ongoing or approved small- and medium-scale hydropower projects across the country, with a combined capacity of 4,067 MW.19 While this high number of small and medium hydropower projects has been the cause of many doubts and much skepticism, most of the concerns are mainly about the procedural registration, financing, economic benefits, operation and utilization of the dams.20 More strategically, a group of experts from Harvard has reportedly warned the Vietnamese government about its increasing dependence on hydropower, given the fact that it cannot control the upstream water resources which its hydropower dams require to operate.21, Against such a backdrop some NGOs, including the WWF, have expressed concerns about the likely negative social and environmental impacts of a series of recently constructed small- and medium-scale hydropower dams without proper, sequential assessment of the impacts of each dam.22 As the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment rightly observes, it is now quite common that the planning and designs of hydropower dams usually pay insufficient attention to a holistic assessment of economic, social and environmental impacts. In an interview with the local press while conducting a socio-environmental impact assessment of hydropower projects in Quang Nam province, a WWF representative argues that a balance between economic growth and sustainable development could be somehow struck by providing necessary information about the environmental impacts of hydropower projects so as to enable the government to make the right decisions.25 Of particular importance, he suggests public forums be opened up so that affected residents can understand the possible impacts of hydropower projects on their livelihoods and voice their stakes in the planning of hydropower projects and adjust their livelihood accordingly.
Premier Inn Belfast Cathedral Quarter, How To Save Uploaded File In Folder Using Javascript, Animal Behaviour Notes Pdf, Bible Study About Telling The Truth, Mary Nightingale Health, Kvie Art Gallery, Borja Voces Novio, Does Morgan Die In Fear The Walking Dead, Samsung A31 Review, Led Voltage Chart, Collingwood Vs Western Bulldogs Teams, Cyprus Visa Application Uk, Springhill Suites Nashville Brentwood, Edward Tufte Design Principles, Ratatouille 2 Release Date, Restaurants Near Lowry Hotel Manchester, Spanish Time Quiz, Nottingham To Heathrow Terminal 4 Bus, What Is The Best/proper Way To Create The Meta-data For Your Page?, Wedding Photography Courses In Kerala, Zen Kitty Cbd Oil, What Dreams Are Made Of Evann Ukulele Chords, Sermon Helpers, Imperial Hotel Thailand, Bet Awards 2013 Full Show Watch Online, Samoan Nrl Players 2019, Plaice Fishing Rigs Boat, Fortis Power Outage Grand Forks Bc, Amerigo Vespucci Facts, 11g-p4-2281-kr Review, Later Instagram Review, 600 Ermac Drive, Nashville, Tn 37214, Noah Boat, Signature Living Victoria Street, Physics Kinematics Problems And Solutions Pdf, What Happened To William Michael Morgan, Edie Brickell - Circle Meaning, Lourdes Stephen Edad, Samsung Note 5 Pro, Corsair Cv550 Installation, Qué Tanto Translation, Dynamic Range In Dance, Casio G'zone Flip Phone, C Syntax Checker, Game Of Thrones Telltale Review, Country With Highest Female Population 2020,
Recent Comments