Projects

Current Status of Environmental and Social Impacts and Mitigation Measures

This Section is still under preparation and will present mitigation measures under implementation and planning, respond to comments by international Non-governmental Organizations and other concerned parties.

Dam Safety Inspection: THPC will provide evidence of a dam safety inspection to international standards.

Environmental Monitoring Program: THPC has committed to continuing the ongoing aspects of the environmental monitoring program. Regular environmental monitoring, including water quality and water levels relevant to fisheries and human impacts will be carried out by the THPC in accordance with the recommendation of THPC’s Environmental Consultant throughout the life of the Project.

River Bank Erosion: THPC will expand the environmental monitoring to include detailed inspection and delineation of locations of bank erosion in the headpond, along the Nam Hai downstream of the tailrace, and the area immediately downstream of the convergence of the Nam Hai-Nam Hinboun. THPC, assisted by the Environmental Management Committee Office (EMCO) will continue this monitoring throughout the life of the Project. In critical areas identified by the monitoring program, THPC will take measures to implement riverbank protection and stabilization.

Fisheries: THPC will ensure that monitoring of the fish populations and fisheries in the headpond are continued at least until 31 December 2001. This monitoring should provide information relevant to the development of appropriate fisheries programs. THPC’s Fisheries Consultant has devised a monitoring plan and is supervising the monitoring of the fish catch in the headpond area. Based on the recommendations of this work, THPC will invest in a cost-effective program to increase the protein level of the fish catch to that of the estimated catch before implementation of the Project. This investment will, if necessary, include the provision of specialist technical expertise in addition to or within the structure of EMCO, and other measures as appropriate on a site-specific basis.

Water wells: THPC will work with EMCO to ensure the completion of the water wells program in the seven villages of the Nam Hai-Nam Hinboun affected area (14 wells). Based on the rapid agreement with the villages as to the cooperation program and siting of the additional wells, an additional program for the ten villages of the headpond area (20 wells) of the same design as the wells in the villages downstream of the tailrace will be added. THPC was to provide its inputs for the construction by 30 September 1998. This work has been delayed as the villagers will only construct the wells in the dry season, commencing in December. THPC is negotiating with a contractor for the work.

Nutrition and the Fishery: THPC will assign to EMCO the task of monitoring two villages in the Nam Hai/Nam Hinboun area where fishing has not been affected, and two affected villages in the headpond area. The objective of the monitoring is to ascertain whether or not fish intake by various categories of community members is being affected by the changes in the fishery. THPC will obtain assistance in the form of advice from an appropriate nutritional survey person as needed. THPC is having discussions with the Ministry of Health and a Ph.D. candidate on this work. If agreed the Ph.D. candidate will adopt the Theun Hinboun Hydropower Project area for her research and assist the Ministry in the updating of previous data and the design of a more comprehensive health and nutrition survey for the area.

Khounkame Village Improvement: THPC will work with EMCO and directly with the chief and people of Khounkame Village outside the gates of the operations camp to assist them to improve the general living standard in the village. This assistance will include advice and financial assistance. Its goal will be to (i) improve the road network to take account of the existing and anticipated expansion in the near future of the housing area; (ii) add public water taps as appropriate in areas not yet serviced; (iii) encourage clean-up of solid waste and abandoned structures; (iv) improve drainage; (v) improve household sanitation by construction of appropriate latrines or other methods after community information and discussion campaigns. THPC also undertakes to require only the relocation of the minimum possible number of houses from the nine or so near the school, providing compensation for the move as required by the actual costs (including lost work time) of the people involved. THPC believes that only a cooperative effort will work. NH has engaged a community relations officer to assist in obtaining such collaboration.

Community Liaison: THPC has appointed a Community Liaison Officer to involve the affected communities in decisions affecting the relationships between the company and the communities throughout the life of the Project. Initially EMCO will undertake this task with the assistance of the THPC. THPC will re-examine the mix of skills in EMCO and either add, change or make alternative provisions outside EMCO to undertake the task. The Community Liaison Officer will have a direct link to project management on site and at the Vientiane office, and with the necessary support facilities, keep continuous contact with the communities, to build a community advisory committee, and otherwise generate ideas and solve problems as they arise.

Nansanam Village Move: Villagers had requested THPC to assist in moving from its current location, which has been historically prone to flooding. THPC has held discussions with the village authorities concerning the proposed move. About 85 percent of the villagers do want to move and will do so at the end of the rice season. THPC is providing assistance with the move by providing some transport, new roofing materials at a cost of $ 7,500 and drinking wells. THPC may also provide additional assistance to both, those moving and remaining, in the form of technical assistance, materials or financial assistance, based on the results of further consultation with the villagers.