Dong Nai River section selected for hydropower development
A working group of the National Assembly’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment led by the committee’s Chairman Phan Xuan Dung worked with authorities in Dong Nai Province on the effects of the Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A hydropower projects on April 23.
At the meeting, Phan Thi My Thanh, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee said even though the province is in desperate need of increased electricity generation, sustainable environmental protection and social welfare must be taken into account during economic development.
“Since 1990, Dong Nai has taken drastic measures to strictly protect local forests. However, hydropower developments on the Dong Nai River system have resulted in serious negative impacts on down river areas, including Dong Nai and Binh Duong Provinces as well as HCM City,” Thanh noted.
Dong Nai authorities proposed that construction of five hydropower projects, including Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A be halted, she said.
Vo Van Chanh, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment said such the two hydropower projects were estimated to have several environmental impacts, including affecting Cat Tien National Park, hydrography and the water source of Dong Nai River, as well as a knock on effect on the livelihoods of local residents.
Expected locations of Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A hydropower plants
Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Dinh Minh said, “The construction of such hydropower projects would terribly affect the operations of 30 pumping stations that serve agricultural production. This would directly affect cultivation in over 8,500 hectares, seriously pollute river water and negatively impact over 1,500 hectares of aquaculture areas.”
According to Minh, the projects would worsen salt encroachment which affect clean water supply for 20 million residents in the area as well as industrial water sources of three southern major economic areas in Dong Nai, HCM City and Binh Duong.
Leaders from the provincial Department of Industry and Trade proposed that the NA not approve for construction of these two projects as the recent hydropower developments have damaged up to 10,000 hectares of local forests.
Careful consideration needed
Le Quang Huy, Vice Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, said the agency was assigned to scrutinise hydropower projects with due attention to be paid to dam safety and resettlement for affected people.
Scientists assessing the environmental impact on the down river areas
However, Huy said the agency has yet to receive any feasibility studies for the Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A hydropower projects.
He agreed that economic development must be combined with environmental protection. He called for a master assessment on the environmental impact of hydropower projects in the Dong Nai on socioeconomic development in the lower land areas.
Vo Dai Hai, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)’s General Department of Forestry, said if Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A projects are allowed for construction, it would destroy a large area of forests as well as Cat Tien National Park.
Hai proposed that MARD conducted a comprehensive assessment on environmental impacts of such projects, adding the hydropower projects have destroyed a combined 20,000 hectares of forests nationwide over the past years.
Pham Xuan Dung said the committee would bring the issue to the NA’s meeting in the mid-May for discussion.
