Monday, 12 September 2011 23:24 Myo Thant
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Former Electrical Power Deputy Minister Myo Myint made a motion in the Upper House of the Burmese Parliament on Monday to seek advice from the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) regarding large dams including the Myitsone Dam project.
The Mandalay Region constituency No. 6 MP moved to apply for ICOLD membership to seek advice on environmental protection and conservation and technological assistance in building large dams on Burmese rivers. Burma has plans for 31 dam projects.
Myo Myint’s motion also called for the formation of a national committee on large dams comprised of environmentalists, meteorologists and construction professionals, according to MPs who attended the session.
ICOLD, based in France, was established in 1982 and has a membership of 90 countries. According to the ICOLD website, its objectives are dam safety, to avoid damaging ecological impact and to offer advice on economic benefits and structural designs.
Criticism and protests against the Myitsone dam project, which was begun by the China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) at the end of 2009, have become widespread.
Upper House MP Pnone Myint Aung said that the government should follow the advice offered by ICOLD.
“This is a big matter and a big issue cannot be decided by our experience and wisdom [alone] so we should consider seriously the analysis and advice given by the international dam organization. Deciding on this big issue on our own is beyond our capacity,” he told Mizzima.
MPs attending the session told Mizzima that Electrical Power Minister Zaw Min said that there were protests against building dams, but the dams were beneficial to the country’s economy and he requested MPs to support dam construction.
Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) party MP Dr. Aye Maung from Rakhine State constituency No. 1 suggested that the central government should present state projects that could have environmental impact to Parliament to approve by a resolution.
In other business, a motion by Union Solidarity and Development Party MP Khin Shwe from Rangoon Region constituency No. 9 to establish the “Myayeiknyo Foundation” was passed unanimously. Khin Shwe will spend 1 billion kyat (US$ 13.33 million) on the foundation, and he will lead in establishing it.
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Former Electrical Power Deputy Minister Myo Myint made a motion in the Upper House of the Burmese Parliament on Monday to seek advice from the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) regarding large dams including the Myitsone Dam project.
The Mandalay Region constituency No. 6 MP moved to apply for ICOLD membership to seek advice on environmental protection and conservation and technological assistance in building large dams on Burmese rivers. Burma has plans for 31 dam projects.
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| The Burmese Parliament. Photo: Mizzima |
Myo Myint’s motion also called for the formation of a national committee on large dams comprised of environmentalists, meteorologists and construction professionals, according to MPs who attended the session.
ICOLD, based in France, was established in 1982 and has a membership of 90 countries. According to the ICOLD website, its objectives are dam safety, to avoid damaging ecological impact and to offer advice on economic benefits and structural designs.
Criticism and protests against the Myitsone dam project, which was begun by the China Power Investment Corporation (CPI) at the end of 2009, have become widespread.
Upper House MP Pnone Myint Aung said that the government should follow the advice offered by ICOLD.
“This is a big matter and a big issue cannot be decided by our experience and wisdom [alone] so we should consider seriously the analysis and advice given by the international dam organization. Deciding on this big issue on our own is beyond our capacity,” he told Mizzima.
MPs attending the session told Mizzima that Electrical Power Minister Zaw Min said that there were protests against building dams, but the dams were beneficial to the country’s economy and he requested MPs to support dam construction.
Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) party MP Dr. Aye Maung from Rakhine State constituency No. 1 suggested that the central government should present state projects that could have environmental impact to Parliament to approve by a resolution.
In other business, a motion by Union Solidarity and Development Party MP Khin Shwe from Rangoon Region constituency No. 9 to establish the “Myayeiknyo Foundation” was passed unanimously. Khin Shwe will spend 1 billion kyat (US$ 13.33 million) on the foundation, and he will lead in establishing it.
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