Cambodia: Officials say Sesan dam will cause floods in September

Cambodia: Officials say Sesan dam will cause floods in September

Stung Treng provincial authorities say they have warned villagers living
upstream of the Lower Sesan II dam to expect floods in September as one of
the dam's 50-megawatt turbines goes into operation.

Stung Treng Provincial Deputy Governor Duong Pov said yesterday that the
provincial hall issued the announcement by letter two weeks ago, informing
local authorities that the Hydropower Lower Sesan 2 Co will test one of the
dam's eight turbines in September.

Pov explained that the statement was sent to local authorities by letter so
that they would relay the information to the villagers, particularly those
who refused to relocate from villages in the dam's reservoir area.

One hundred and ten families in the villages of Sre Kor and Kbal Romeas
still refuse to move, Pov said.

Provincial Spokesman Men Kong said that provincial authorities will continue
negotiating with the families and are prepared to assist them in the event
of severe flooding.

Dam Samnang, who belongs to one of the 58 families refusing to abandon Kbal
Romeas village, said that he saw the news on Facebook but received no
warning from local authorities.

Asked how his community would prepare for the flooding, Samnang responded
"our preparation is the protest; there is nothing else besides the protest
because it is not a natural flood".

Former Sre Kor Commune Chief Siek Mekong claimed that he also received no
formal notification from the authorities, though he heard rumours about the
turbine going into operation this September.

"The announcement is not right," said Mekong, saying that 93 families remain
in Sre Kor village.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/officials-say-sesan-dam-will-cause-flo
ods-september

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com