Resettlement implementation management caused by hydropower development: A case study of Nam Ngum2 hydropower project in Laos

Abstract

This paper seeks to contribute to the local context and experiences on the resettlement policy and implementation management of the hydropower development projects based on documentary and policy review. The paper shows that, since the science of resettlement and rehabilitation is a new marginal science. There is no fixed mode in solving the problem of compensation, resettlement and rehabilitation and each nation, according to its own practical situation. Laos is naturally wealthy of rivers and water resources suitable for hydropower development for promoting economic growth and alleviating poverty. Nowadays, about 22 hydropower projects with totally installed capacity of 3,205 megawatts have been operated in the whole country. Recently, Nam Ngum 2 (NN2) Hydropower Project is the second biggest station with installed capacity of 615 MW. The NN2 project affected 16 rural villages, 1,099 households, 6,234 persons, 4 temples, 13 schools, 2 hospitals and also had environmental, social, cultural, economical, livelihood and resettlement impacts. For overcoming those issues, the preferable decree No. 192 on Compensation and Resettlement of Development Project, its technical guideline, and related policies is applied through infrastructure and housing reconstruction, community development, rehabilitation of livelihood, occupation and income generation and farmland and cash compensation.