According to the Military Council, the Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project, being implemented on the Dokhtawaddy River (Myitnge River) in Kyaukme Township, Shan State, is expected to be completed by 2025.
The Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project is situated near Taungchay Village, approximately 20 miles south of Kyaukme Township in Shan State.
Despite strong opposition from the public community in Shan State, the Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project, being constructed and overseen by the Military Council, is scheduled to be completed in 2025, as reported by the Military Council's media.
According to the newspaper, the construction of the Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project commenced during the 2010-2011 fiscal year, and as of now, the project work has reached 53.21 percent completion.
Upon completion, the hydropower project is expected to generate 280 megawatts of electricity, providing a distribution of approximately 1,409 million kilowatt-hours annually through the power network system across the entire country.
"During the implementation of the project, our utmost priority is to minimize any adverse impacts on the villages within the watershed area and strive to create an improved socio-economic situation compared to the original state," stated U Thein Zaw, the chief officer of the Upper Yeywa Hydropower Project.
However, the residents reported that up to this day, the relevant authorities have not taken any action to relocate the villages situated within the watershed area or provide compensation for their displacement.
"Primarily, our concern is that if the dam were to break, the people living downstream could be at risk of flooding. Unfortunately, with the military taking control, we feel powerless to prevent it," expressed a local resident residing in a village near the project in Kyaukme Township.
The Yeywa Hydropower Project, operating on the Dokhtawaddy River (Myitnge River), is currently generating 790 MW of electricity. Furthermore, there are other ongoing hydropower projects: the Namtu (Hsipaw) project aims to produce 210 MW, the Middle Yeywa project aims to generate 735 MW, and the Deedoke project is intended to generate 60 MW.
The location of the dam construction site is within an area where both the Military Council troops and ethnic armed forces operate. Additionally, this area is prone to potential military conflicts that can arise at any time.
