Myanmar: NGOs Damn Myanmar Dam Plans

Jan 20, 2015 | Mizzima
View Original

In open letters to Myanmar’s Ministry of Electric Power and the Thai and Chinese embassies in Yangon, the Burma Rivers Network appealed January 19 for an end to controversial plans to construct dams on the Salween or Thanlwin river.

Over 60,000 people and 131 NGOs have signed a petition calling for a halt to plans to build dams on the 1,750 mile long river that originates on the Tibetan plateau.

The Burma Rivers Network - comprised of organisations representing various dam-affected communities in Myanmar with the aim of protecting the health and biodiversity of river ecosystems, and the rights of communities negatively impacted by large-scale river development - called for the immediate halt to all dam projects on the Salween River, and a review of the dam plans in a transparent manner, with the full participation of civil society and affected communities.