EIA on Dawei-Kanchanaburi road to be released

A bulldozer clearing the land of an oil farm in Dawei district (Photo - Phyo Zin)

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) will come out by the year-end regarding a four-lane road, which is under construction to link Myanmar’s Dawei deep-sea port and Kanchanaburi in Thailand, coordinator Bo Bo Aung of Dawei Development Association (DDA) said.

Some environmentalists believe that deforestation can increase as the road will pass through the Taninthayi mountain ranges.

The project is scheduled to be completed by 2015 and construction of the road axis has been finished.

Plans are also underway to expand the four-lane road into an eight-lane one.

“The environmental impact assessment on the project is being carried out by the Thai side. I heard it will be published at the end of this year. But we haven’t heard of the Myanmar side making any assessment. It will be an eight-lane road project. The axis for the four-lane road has been built. Now, deforestation in the Taninthayi mountain ranges is increasing,” Bo Bo Aung said.

In 2008, Thailand and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding to implement a US$80-billion project on building an industrial zone and a deep-sea port in Dawei in southern Myanmar.

The Thai government aims to use Dawei deep-sea port as an exit to the Indian Ocean. It will also serve as a link between Myanmar and Europe and Africa.

EIA on road linking Dawei port to be released

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) will come out by the year-end regarding a four-lane road, which is under construction to link Myanmar's Dawei deep-sea port and Kanchanaburi in Thailand, coordinator Bo Bo Aung of Dawei Development Association (DDA) said.

 Some environmentalists believe that deforestation can increase as the road will pass through the Taninthayi mountain ranges.

The project is scheduled to be completed by 2015 and construction of the road axis has been finished.

Plans are also underway to expand the four-lane road into an eight-lane one.

"The environmental impact assessment on the project is being carried out by the Thai side. I heard it will be published at the end of this year. But we haven't heard of the Myanmar side making any assessment. It will be an eight-lane road project. The axis for the four-lane road has been built. Now, deforestation in the Taninthayi mountain ranges is increasing," Bo Bo Aung said.

In 2008, Thailand and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding to implement a US$80-billion project on building an industrial zone and a deep-sea port in Dawei in southern Myanmar.

The Thai government aims to use Dawei deep-sea port as an exit to the Indian Ocean. It will also serve as a link between Myanmar and Europe and Africa.

 

Link : http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/EIA-on-road-linking-Dawei-port-to-be-released-30191111.html 

Yingluck has Dawei chat at UN

Agrees with Myanmar president on urgency

 

• Published: 28/09/2012 at 07:48 AM
• Newspaper section: Business

NEW YORK CITY : Leaders of Thailand and Myanmar have agreed to speed up the Dawei deep-sea port project in eastern Myanmar, planning to announce their development plan in November through the three-level mechanism.

The confirmation came after talks between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Myanmar President Thein Sein on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Both sides agreed to move forward with the Dawei project, as Myanmar would like to see the three-level mechanism continue its work through meetings, said a source who asked not to be named.

Italian-Thai Development Plc, Thailand's biggest contractor, has been granted a concession from the Myanmar government to develop the special economic zone and deep-sea port in Dawei.

The three-level mechanism includes a joint high-level committee chaired by Myanmar's deputy president and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Kittiratt Na-Ranong.

The coordinating committee is headed by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, while six subcommittees on infrastructure, industrial estates, energy, community development, finance and rule of law are headed by related ministers in each country.

Thailand and Myanmar will announce the project development plan during November's Asean Summit in Cambodia. The Thai government will host the first meeting soon, said the source.

Other issues to be worked out during the meeting include Thailand's interest in cooperating with Myanmar to develop a special economic zone at Thilawa Port in Yangon, the source added.

Japan has formed a consortium with Myanmar to develop the area, and the Thai private sector would like to invest in the port.

The source mentioned Bangkok and Yangon will set up a working group to join hands to develop the special economic zones. Details will be discussed by the Thai industry minister, who will travel to Myanmar soon.

In addition, Thailand will grant financial aid to Myanmar to build 76 kilometres of road from Tak's Mae Sot district on the Thai side to Mywaddy-Kawkareik in Myanmar under the aegis of Thailand's Rural Roads Department.

The Thai government will consider supporting road construction from Kawkareik to Maylamyine, linking roads from Thailand to India through Myanmar.

Addressing the Asia Society in New York, Ms Yingluck said Myanmar is proceeding towards democracy and has Thailand's support.

The prime minister said Myanmar needs support for projects that help improve the country's economic growth and quality of life.

She said the Thai government will also work closely with Myanmar to tackle refugee problems.

On the South China Sea issue, the premier said Thailand, as a coordinator between Asean and China, would like to see the maritime route safe for transport, with related agencies tackling the problem through peaceful means.