Vietnam Ministry Fines Two Hydropower Plants for Violating Water Use Rules

Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has fined two hydroelectricity plants in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak for violating regulations on water use as stipulated in the government’s decree. The decision on fining was made on Mar 16 to Buon Don Hydropower JSC and Dak Mi Hydropower JSC for their ignorance of report on monitoring, exploiting and using water resource as specified in Decree 142/2013/ND-CP. Dak Mi has ignored regulations on building plans coping with dam breaking, threatening many lives in the lowlands while Buon Don company deliberately runs the power facility without water monitoring plans. Tightening control over hydropower is part of efforts the Vietnamese government made to ensure stable operation of hydropower system which struggles to survive in the context of widespread drought. The operation of hydropower plants has caused impacts on cultivation in the lowlands and harmed livelihood of millions inhabitants. (Nongnghiep.vn Mar 17, Vietnamplus.vn Mar 17)