People evacuated after the dam collapse (Source: xinhua)Vientiane (VNA) – The Lao Government decided to suspend theconsideration of new hydropower projects to review the country’s hydropowerdevelopment strategy after the breach of a dam last month left at least 34 deadand 100 still missing.
The decision followed an abnormal cabinet meeting chaired byPrime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on August 6-7 during which plans were alsomade to carry out safety inspections of all hydropower projects already builtor under construction in the country.
Inspections will be conducted by the Ministry of Energy andMines, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment, and the Ministry of Science and Technology with thehelp of international experts.
Any irregularities found in the design or constructionstandard of any dam must be reported to the government.
The Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam collapsed on July 23,causing massive floods which completely isolated six villages in the Sanamxaydistrict of Attapeu province. The incident affected over 1,300 households with6,600 people.
At the meeting, the government also decided to set up aninvestigation committee to coordinate with international organisations to lookinto reasons behind the dam collapse.
The committee will examine the quality of nearly 50hydropower dams which have been completed as well as the design of those underconstruction, he said, adding that Laos will also establish a water managementboard to keep track of the volume of water in lakes.-VNA
VNA
