Public Consultation Meetings: Public consultation meetings on Myitsone project held

Under the supervision and management of the Kachin State Government, the Information and Public Relations Department and the Kachin State Local Committee have been continuously conducting community-based public consultation meetings, down to the ward and village levels, to provide local residents with technical information and enhance their knowledge and understanding of matters related to the Confluence, Upper and Basin of Ayeyawady River Myitsone Hydropower Project. As part of these activities, meetings with local residents were held in Moegaung and Hopin townships in Mohnyin District on 7 September.

During the consultations, a meeting with local residents was held at the Hopin Township Hall at 1 p.m. Kachin State Minister for Electricity, Energy, Industry and Transportation U Aung Naing, Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Dr. Aung Win, Minister for Shan Ethnic Affairs U Tin Aung, heads of relevant state-level departments, and experts who are members of the local committee openly and frankly exchanged views with local residents.

In response to questions, discussions and submissions raised by the local people, the officials and experts provided technical information that the public should know, findings presented by geological experts, comparative explanations of differences in development among countries based on access to electrical energy, and engineering advantages underlying the selection of the Myitsone site for the project.

Similarly, a meeting with local residents was held in the morning at the Thathana Beikman Hall in Moekaung. Discussions were held openly and frankly on measures and contingency plans in place in the event of natural disasters affecting the Myitsone Project; arrangements being made for people living along the Ayeyawady River; supervision and monitoring arrangements to be implemented throughout the construction period and matters concerning employment opportunities, entitlements and benefits for local residents, as well as their concerns and anxieties regarding the project.