14. Nov 2006
Megoe lake dam project cancelled
(International River Network) A controversial dam project on a sacred lake in eastern Tibet has been scrapped by the Chinese authorities following concerns expressed by local Tibetans and Chinese environmentalists. The official Sichuan Daily newspaper reported on 08 November that the Ganzi prefecture's Party Committee and the government in Sichuan province had decided to cancel the Megoe Tso project in favour of tourism development. The Ganzi prefecture's governor, Yao Si Dan, was quoted in the newspaper as saying: "Although hydropower is clean energy, we are strongly against the impacts of this development on the environment". The lake, Megoe Tso, is surrounded by pristine glacial waters, hot springs, and primeval forests, all of which sustain more than 1,000 species of rare tropical plants and 2,000 varieties of animals and birds. Tourists, botanists, photographers and spiritual pilgrims from around the world visit the area every year and the number of interested people is likely to increase if the area is kept in its pristine condition.