China province seeks dams despite environment fears

By Ben Blanchard

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's southwestern province of Yunnan is still hoping to build controversial dams and hydropower plants on the upper reaches of the Salween River, a senior official said on Thursday, despite environmental concerns.

Premier Wen Jiabao in 2004 ordered an environmental study of the proposed dams on the river known in China as the Nu, after environmental officials and scientists mobilised opposition to the plans.

At that time, many critics of the project -- which is near a World Heritage site, leading the United Nations to express concern -- assumed it was entirely dead.

But Yunnan officials eager to promote economic growth, and energy officials eager to slake China's thirst for electricity, have continued to promote the dams.

Bai Enpei, Yunnan's Communist Party boss, told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of China's annual meeting of parliament that the dams would bring much needed income to the area, which in turn would help environmental protection.

"We are actively pushing the development of hydropower plants, including on the Nu River," he said. "But their construction must take into account those downstream. And the environment must protected. The people must also benefit.

"Some oppose and some support the Nu River projects. I am on the supporting team," Bai added.

"If you have never been, you would wonder how you could build dams in such a beautiful area. But that's not the case. It's in a remote border area, and the trees around have almost all been felled. Only if there is economic development can there be money to protect the environment," he said.