Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DAM NATION: THE MYITSONE DAM PROJECT
The
MyitsoneDam
ontheAyeyarwady,8kmsouthofitsconfluence, isoneofMyanmar's
most controversial engineering projects. The 140m-high dam is expected to flood 447sq
km and force the relocation of 11,800 local people, as well as preventing fertile sediment
from washing down the river to Myanmar's “rice bowl”, the Ayeyarwady Delta. Critics
also point out that the site sits upon the unstable Sagaing fault line, and that, as with many
of Myanmar's mooted mega-projects, a foreign nation will reap the benefits while leaving
Myanmar to deal with the substantial environmental and social costs - in return for fin-
ancing the project, much of the electricity generated will be exported to China's Yunnan
province.
Despite President Thein Sein's announcement in 2011 that the project would be suspen-
ded for the remainder of his term, locals say that the construction is continuing in secret
using imported workers from China. Opposition to the dam has led to skirmishes between
the KIA and government troops in the area.
The road from Myitkyina to the Ayeyarwady confluence passes
AungMyintTha
, a new
villagewitheerierowsofsuburban-stylehousingthatwasconstructedforlocalpeoplewho
will be displaced by the dam. The village has not been a notable success - today most in-
habitants continue to work the fields near their old village, where the land is more fertile
than Aung Myint Tha's heavy clay.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION: MYITKYINA AND AROUND
At the time of research, the only ways to get in and out of Myitkyina were by flying in or
taking the phenomenally slow and frequently delayed train from Mandalay, 600km away.
By plane
Air Bagan, Asian Wings, Myanma Airways and Air KBZ all have flights to My-
itkyina's airport, 5km west of the town centre. On arrival, don't worry if you're herded out
of the airport without your bags - the luggage reclaim is done in a shed outside the airport
gates. Most airline offices are concentrated on and around Swon Para Bwan St, but opening
hours at all the offices are unreliable - if you're out of luck and unable to book through your
accommodation, try Sun Far Travel (daily 9am-5pm; 074 23392 or 09 240 1141), also
on Swon Para Bwan St.
Destinations
Bhamo(2weekly;30min);Mandalay(8weekly;45min-2hr);Putao(5weekly;
50min); Yangon (7 weekly; 2hr 20min).
By train
Myitkyina's railway station is right in the centre of town. The ticket office is open
from7amto9.30pm,andit'spossibletobuytickets onedayinadvance.WhilebasicEnglish
is spoken at the station, the timetables are all in Burmese - the fastest services to Mandalay
are the 34 and 38 down.
