interior

Hydro plan approved

Mivi okays a plan that will relocate people impacted by the Río Changuinola project.

Luis Rodríguez/la prensa

Cooling off:This swimming hole in the Río Mamoní could soon be a thing of the past if a proposed hydroelectric project is approved. The project is in its initial stages. Meanwhile, a project is moving forward on the Río Changuinola.984423

The Ministerio de Vivienda (Mivi) has approved a plan that will relocate families affected by the construction of a hydroelectric project on the Río Changuinola.

The homes will be moved a few kilometeres from their current location. The government did not specify how many people will be affected.

The project's dam will involve flooding about 1,300 hectares of land in Palo Seco, which is a protected area. AES Changuinola Manager Humberto González said the project will impact less than 1 percent of the protected area.

The government at first was going to relocate the families outside of Palo Seco, but, after numerous protests from those affected by the project, decided on the site within the protected area.

Construction on the hydroelectric project started last October and is expected to be finished in 2011. It will generate an estimated 223 megawatts of power.

Meanwhile, a proposed hydroelectric plant on the Río Mamoní in the district of Chepo is beginning the initial stages of approval.

The Autoridad Nacional de Servicios Públicos has authorized Elektra Noreste to begin work on an environmental impact statement.

The document will cover the construction time, the number of homes impacted and how the river's water will be diverted.

The project is already facing stiff opposition from local officials.

"We are not going to let anyone destroy our drinking water," said Ismael Batista, a local representative.

But others have decided to take a "wait and see" approach to the project.

"We want to see what kind of project this is, how many benefits there are and the damage that will be caused before making a decision," said local politician Raúl Saavedra.