Deal #6527

The project proceeds according to schedule and decisions made without the informed consent, consultation or participation of directly affected individuals.

Villagers interviewed by International River commonly testified they felt pressured to move to the consolidated settlements that have been set up as 'relocation' sites. They continue to be highly concerned about household food and income insecurity, and typically report that the company's livelihood programs for dry season rice farming, fish raising and livestock end up leaving them in debt as opposed to boosting family incomes.

Resettled villagers who was relocated to live in a new village in Khamkeuth district of Bolikhamxay shared that they faced with land conflicts with village committees regarding the land ownership. Those villagers told that since they moved to new place, they did not have full rights over the land and some members of village committees played trick to take a way of their plot of land [Source: Interview two villagers who currently living in the new village]

Approximately 8,500 people from 23 villages located along the Hai and Hinboun rivers are included within THPC’s relocation program. However, according to THPC, since “villagers keep their land and livelihoods around the old village site they are not considered as being resettled, but rather as relocating to new houses on less flood-prone land nearby.”

International River reported that more than 29,000 people in 71 villages – mostly subsistence farmers – have lost fisheries, rice fields, vegetables gardens and fresh drinking water supplies as a result of the dam. THPC Website stated that the project impacts included: resettlement, relocation due to safety measures, flooding for 22 villagesand water quality problems due to construction

Livelihood mitigation and restoration programs

Many of the livelihood mitigation and restoration programs have largely failed.

International Rivers - released stories of locals and the maltreatment to them from operating company