The Dakrong Hydropower JS Company will build its A Cho project in the “strictly protected area” of the Dakrong nature reserve. The Quang Tri Forest Protection Department and Dakrong nature reserve management board continue to protest, saying that it will greatly harm the protected area.

 

Le Van Qui, Quang Tri Forest Protection Department Vice-Chief, revealed that in a 2004 meeting to evaluate the A Cho project, almost all representatives from the local Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Planning and Investment, the Department of Construction, the Forest Protection Agency and the authorities of Dakrong objected to building the hydropower plant inside the Dakrong nature reserve. Only the representative from the local Department of Industry and Trade approved.

 

Quang Tri Vice-Chairman Le Huu Thang also added: “To protect the specialized forest under the law on forest protection and development, Quang Tri does not permit the construction of A Cho hydropower plant.”

 

According to a Dakrong Hydropower JS Company dispatch sent to the Dakrong Nature Reserve on May 17, 2006, Quang Tri People’s Committee agreed to the project. On March 6, 2008, the committee approved a plan to build 17 hydro-power projects in Quang Tri from 2008 to 2010, including the A Cho project with an investment of 167 billion dong, signed by former chairman, Le Huu Phuc.

 

Dakrong Hydropower JS Company Director Do Thanh Vinh stated that “We are building this plant based on the hydropower development plan approved by the Quang Tri People’s Committee and our agreement with the Quang Tri Department of Industry and Trade.”

 

Quang Tri Department of Industry and Trade Director Thai Vinh Khang said: “The Department of Industry and Trade is only involved in planning and arranging the site for the above project. Our view is entirely on supporting enterprises to develop the economy.”

 

Quang Tri Chairman Nguyen Duc Cuong said that the A Cho project is still in the evaluation process and has not been licensed yet. Vinh disclosed that investment in surveys is already 2 billion dong.

 

The Dakrong nature reserve’s management board said that the A Chon project is located entirely inside the Dakrong nature reserve and its reservoir, dam, canal and other works are centered in the protected area. The total land for this project is 53.3 hectares, but its influence will be huge as the company will, for instance, destroy the forests to build roads, environmental experts cited.

 

The planned site for A Cho project is an area rich in biodiversity, with many species of endemic plants and animals like deep-blue pheasants, langurs and Tibetan bears.  Nature reserve specialists argue that that the hydropower project will seriously harm the biodiversity and the fragile ecological system.

 

Concurrently, Quang Tri Forest Protection Department and the Dakrong nature reserve management board are being urged to conduct formalities so the investor can launch its project in the first quarter of 2010.

 

According to Quang Tri’s hydropower development plan, there are will be up to six power plants on the Dakrong river, including Dakrong 1, 2, 3, 4, Se Pa Ling and A Cho. The Dakrong 3 and 4 were kicked off in October and early November 2009. The Dakrong 1 and 2 will begin in December 2009.