Locals Oppose Building of Ye Township Coal-Fired Power Plant

Friday, May 30th, 2014

 

Coal-fired Power Plant Project Briefing

Aye Mi Aung – Locals will oppose the building of a 1280 Megawatt coal-fired power plant by Toyo Thai near Aunden Village in Ye Township, Mon State according to Nai Tin Shein, the administrator of Aunden village.

He said that the decision to stop the project was made at Hnee Ka-Yoke village, seven Buddhist monasteries and six villages near Par-Lain Mountain.

He said: “We completely oppose [the project]. We will oppose it in accordance with the law, no violence will be used.”

The decision to oppose the project was taken because once it was constructed it could damage the environment and cause serious health problems, along with acid rain and high temperatures which would damage crops, lakes, rivers and streams and kill aquatic life.

About 60 representatives from Duu-yar, Kuu-ha-taw, Hnee-Hnuu, Thar-ka-ran and Aun-den villages now working in Malaysia held a meeting in the Galan area at Salangaw Township in Malaysia. They decided to oppose the project because they believed that it would harm local people. The Mon State Government, which helped plan the project,
have claimed that it will benefit the locals.

Nai Kaung Sakar a leader of the group in Malaysia opposing the project said: “We from Malaysia but originally from the Par-Lain mountains released a statement calling on all locals to speak with one voice and to increase their opposition.”

He said that political parties, Buddhist monks, Mon youth groups, civil society organizations and locals will oppose any large-scale project planned for Mon State.

Daw Ni Ni San a manager of the Toyo Thai project said: “We have submitted the proposal to build the plant, but we have not received permission yet. When the government gives the green light the plant will be constructed and its electricity will be distributed throughout Mon State and only be used by people in Burma. It will not be sold
abroad.”

The owners of farmland where the plant is to be constructed are very worried that their land will be confiscated. Some of them said they would only sell their land if they get the price they are asking for.

According to Toyo Thai’s project handout 2,700 million USD will be invested in the power plant. It will be built on 500 acres of farmland near Aunden Village and will start operating in 2018.