Provincial authorities of Quang Nam have reviewed and slashed a number of hydropower projects in the province after the media carried reports warning these would have great adverse impacts on the environment.
Nguyen Hong Van, director of Quang Nam Department of Industry and Trade, said on Friday that the department had worked with the departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment and the Forestry Division to conduct inspections and review some of the 60 hydro-power projects planned on the upper section of Vu Gia-Thu Bon River.
Van said after the inspection, the provincial authorities had decided to slash eight "infeasible" projects from the province's investment list.
These include the 3.2 MW Tra Linh 1 Project invested by Construction JSC No 699 in Na Tra My District; the 2MW Trok River Project by Hoang Quoc Construction, Trading and Service Co in Bac Tra My District; the 3MW Pa Dong Project by Nhan Luat Energy Co in Nam Giang District; and the 2MW Dak Se 2 Project by Quang Nam Infrastructure Development Co.
Four of five hydropower projects in Tien Phuoc District had been rejected or revoked, Van said.
In addition, the province was considering revoking the licences of 12 other projects which may cause flooding in areas under cultivation and would affect vast areas of watersheds.
Van said investors had to scale down these projects so that they would not affect the watersheds and residents' arable land or have their licences revoked.