Measures to Minimize the Environmental and Social Impacts in the

Implementation of Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project , Myanmar

Abstract

The Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project consists of a dam and a reservoir, 280 MW
hydropower plant and annually supply approximately 1,409 GWh of electricity to
nationwide demand. The Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project will contribute to the social
economy of Myanmar and quality of people’s life improvement by the energy created by
the renewable and national resources of hydropower. Myanmar is rich in natural
resources and important to protect these resources. So it is necessary to aware the
environmental and social impacts causing by the implementation of projects.

This paper describes the action plans for the measures to minimize the
environmental and social impacts and the relocation of the two villages in reservoir areas
to the better socio-economic conditions by the implementation of the Upper Yeywa
Hydropower Project.

1. Introduction

The Upper Yeywa Hydropower project is located on the Myitnge River, which is in
Kyaukme District (Northern Shan State) of Myanmar. It is far from 130 km upstream of
the existing Yeywa Hydropower Plant (790MW) which is the largest Hydropower Plant
with very first RCC Dam in Myanmar. The design capacity of Upper Yeywa Hydropower
Project is 280MW (70MW x 4 units) and the anticipated Mean Annual Energy Generation
is 1409 GWh. The project has been developed by Department of Hydropower
Implementation (DHPI) and it is currently in under construction stage. The main hydro
related structures of the project are; RCC gravity dam with maximum height of 102 m
and crest length of 269 m, a gated ogee spillway with 4 bays and 2 bottom outlets,
located in the dam body near the left abutment, a power intake on the left abutment
with 2 headrace tunnels 469 m and 533 m long, with an internal diameter of 12.5 m,
and an outdoor powerhouse equipped with 4 Francis turbines with rated discharge of
 2
125 m3/s each. The catchment area of the Project is 21,955 km (8477square miles)
and the reservoir area is 24.6 km2 (6078.85 acre) at full storage water level of 395 m.

Location Map of Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project

The Environmental and Social Impacts which is caused by the implementation of

Upper Yeywa Hydropower project, will be assessed in detail. This paper describes the
measures to minimize the Environmental and Social Impacts of the Upper Yeywa
Hydropower Project.

2. Background of the Environmental and Social Impacts Study

The Project consists of a dam, a reservoir and a 280 MW hydropower plant. The
2
catchment area of the Project is 21,955 km (8477 square miles) and the reservoir area
is 24.6 km2 (6078.85 acre) at Full Storage water level (FSL) of 395 m.

The Project can be classified as category A project, in accordance with the ADB
environmental classification criteria. The feasibility Study Report of the Upper Yeywa
Hydropower Project on the Myitnge river has been done by DHPI since July 2010 and
the Preliminary Analysis Report of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the
Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project has been conducted in March 2011 respectively. But
the report corresponds in position to near “Screening” and MOECAF examined and
suggested to complete full ESIA report according to the present status of Environmental
Conservation Rules and guidelines.

Department of Hydropower Implementation (DHPI) has requested to Resource &

Environment Myanmar Co., Ltd. (REM) for an updated EIA mission in accordance with
ADB’s Environment Policy (2002) and Environmental Conservation Rules of MOECAF
(2014). According to the DHPI's request, REM team has conducted a detailed study and
submitted a report on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the
Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project. REM team also prepared and submitted the
Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in the ESIA report of Upper Yeywa Hydropower
Project.

3. Findings of the Environmental and Social Impacts Study

Environmental and social impacts on project are assessed and evaluated based on
the project description and results of the baseline survey. According to the study of
EIA/SIA, environmental and social impacts of this project are described as follow;

3.1 Environmental Impacts

Major potential environmental impacts from the Project include (i) soil erosion, (ii)
loss of biodiversity, (iii) loss of river continuum because of the dam; (iv) a river reach
with strongly reduced flow, and (v) daily water level fluctuations downstream of the
power plant because of peaking.

3.2 Social Impacts

The Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project will have a significant impact on the daily
life of the people residing in the project affected areas. There are three zones with
various impacts; the reservoir inundation area, the project lands area and the up and
downstream areas.
3.2.1 Reservoir Area

In the reservoir area, two villages, named Talong (East) and Talong (West), one
hundred forty-three (143) households that have 486 peoples, twelve (12) acres for
housing lot, 208 acres for farmland and 8,765 acres for forest area will be submerged in
the reservoir when inundation of the Upper Yeywa Dam.

3.2.2 The Project Lands Area

Project Lands include the areas that will be required for the project construction
inclusive of the dam, access roads, workers camps and the land areas that will be
affected by the transmission line from the power station to nearby substation. People
living and utilizing these areas are going to be affected in several ways.

Local people will be affected by all the social and cultural changes due to the
increasing population with different background, customs and values.

3.2.3 The Up and Down Stream Area

Upstream Area – Upstream fishery will be affected by reduced migratory fish.

Downstream Area – Reduced fish resources and water level changes

According to the ESIA Report, the mitigation measures for the above impacts.
This ESIA Report was submitted to the MONREC (MOECAF) and it was responded to
follow their regulations. Currently, Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project is implementing
according to the MONREC's comments and environmental management plan of ESIA
Report.

4. Condition of Operation to minimize Environmental and Social Impacts

4.1 Conditions of Performance under the EMP

(1) The loss of top soil, soil erosion, silt deposition and water quality of the
project area were measured and checked regularly.
 (2) To prevent air pollution due to dust particles from construction and
machinery and smoke from vehicles and equipment, water spraying (Moisture Control
measure) in the working area is being carried out in accordance with the requirement.

(3) Planting replacements for trees that were cut down in the working area, in
order to make the project area green, shady plants, fruit trees and flower plants are
planted every year.

(4) Plans have been established to prevent and reduce potential impacts during
operation, and are fully implemented in accordance with the EMP.

Planting Activities Planting Activities

Planting Activities Planting Activities

4.2 Operation to develop of socio-economic life near the project area

(1) In the fiscal year 2008-2009, from the (94/7) mile post of the Mandalay-
Lashio Road to the project area, a 30 ft wide access road (20 mile) was constructed in
order to travel in any season. Furthermore, in the fiscal year 2014-2015, about 4 mile of
30 ft wide access road has been constructed from the project area to Manhtan Village.

Width = 30 ft

Access Road (20 mile)

Access Road (4 mile) Access Road (4 mile)

(2) It was also built a 60 ton capacity bridge to facilitate the transportation of
construction materials and local people from nearby villages in the Southern and
Northern parts of Shan State.

60 Ton Bridge 60 Ton Bridge

 (3) Electricity supply is a vital role for the social economic development of the
villages that locates near the project. Therefore electricity supply to the villages near the
project was implemented, and until now it was provided for (12) villages that locates
near the project area from 2016-2017 fiscal year to 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Electricity Supply

Electricity Supply

5. Plans for the relocation of villages in the reservoir area

The two villages of Talong (East) and Talong (West) will need entire relocation
due to reservoir inundation. Resettlement will take place in the nearby areas of former
places. New villages will be implement with houses, lands, infrastructure, social services,
etc.
 The most important concern is to ensure the living standards of the affected
residents should be improved compared to their existing income. Livelihood and new
housing conditions should be provided at the higher level than their original level: the
business conditions of affected business and shops as well as working environment must
be restored or improved. And all the compensation procedure should be finished before
the relocation work.

Proposed Relocation Place

5.1 Preliminary Resettlement Action Plan

The Preliminary Resettlement Action Plans are as follows;

(a) Making plans for village migration
(b) Migration Committee, Formation of supervisory committees and fieldwork
(c) Field surveying and consulting with affected villagers
(d) Negotiating of compensation rate
(e) Compilation of field surveys to affected villages
(f) Providing of compensation.
5.2 Plans to be implemented for the relocation of villages

The Plan to be implemented for the relocation of villages are as follows:

(a) Land reclamation work for new village
(b) Construction of roads, bridges and road structures
(c) Construction of religious, educational, health, administrative and social
facilities
(d) Water Supply
(e) Electricity Supply
(f) Relocation of Affected Villages
(g) Development of agricultural land acquisition
(h) Providing village development activities

(a) Land reclamation work for the new village

Land reclamation work for new villages will be carried out by the department.
Depending on the terrain, the widest (80'x80') and narrowest (60'x60') will be provided
for each (1) housing plot.

(b) Construction of roads, bridges and road structures

Also roads, bridges and road structures will be constructed by the department.
During the fiscal year 2015-2016, an 8-miles of 30ft wide access road has been
constructed from Namakhaw village to Talong (East) village, Hsipaw Township. During
fiscal year 2016-2017 (23) road structures (bridges, box culverts and pipe culverts, etc.)
of this access road have been constructed. In addition, department has a plan to
construct a road (about 14 miles) from Pongho Village to Talong (West) Village,
Kyaukme Township for the use of relocated villages.

Access Road (8 mile) Access Road (8 mile)

(c) Construction of religious, educational, health, administrative and social
facilities

The department will implement the buildings related to the religious, educational,
health, administrative and social facilities.

(d) Water Supply

Depending on the available of water resources, water supply and distribution

system will be serviced by the department at the two new villages.

(e) Electricity Supply

The department will provide the electricity supply works including power lines
construction and meter installation for the new villages.

(f) Relocation of Affected Villages

The relocation of the villages will be started on the specified date, and the
materials owned by the villagers, salvage materials obtained from building demolition; all
materials will be transported by vehicles from the department to the new villages.

(g) Development of agricultural land acquisition

DHPI and other related departments will arrange to get the agricultural land to
compensate for the villagers.

(h) Providing village development activities

The Department and the related Ministries will support to develop the agriculture,
livestock, fishery and small scale industries of the villagers.
Proposed Layout Plan for Talong(East) Proposed Layout Plan for Talong(West)

Proposed Monastery Design Proposed School Design

Proposed Assembly Hall Design Proposed Administrative Office Design

Proposed Clinic Design Proposed Library Design

6. Conclusion

Currently DHPI is implementing the Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project according

to the EMP plan of ESIA report and MONREC's comments. Construction works are
completed about 53% and still in progress. Moreover, the Department will also
implement the remaining construction works and the relocation of the affected villages in
the reservoir area by minimizing the environmental and social impacts. After completion
of the project it will be generate the electricity about 1409 GWh annually, and it shall
cover about 3.7 million people from the whole Myanmar. This amount of people counts
up to 6.6% of Myanmar citizen. Therefore it will be greatly support for the development
of Myanmar by direct and indirect ways. By implementing the Upper Yeywa Hydropower
Project according to the above procedures especially for the resettlement purpose, it will
greatly support for the improvement of the socio-economic life of the effected local
people and it will also sharply minimize the environmental and social impacts together.