Plans for a controversial dam project on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River are poised to move forward in Chongqing despite fierce public opposition, as environmentalists say the project threatens to jeopardise the country's last haven for rare species of fish.
Environmentalists were shocked to find that, over the past two days, local authorities in the southwestern municipality had markedly accelerated final preparations for the hydroelectric Xiaonanhai Dam. At an estimated cost of 23.9 billion yuan (HK$29.4 billion), the dam would be built 700 kilometres upstream from the Three Gorges Dam and is a pet project of the municipality's embattled party chief, Bo Xilai .
According to a consultation document on the dam's preliminary work posted by developer China Three Gorges Corporation, the dam would be about 40 kilometres upstream of the city centre and generate 1,680 megawatts of electricity.
The document, as part of a mandatory environmental approval process for dam projects, was made public on a little-known government-linked website about a week ago. Critics have lashed out at its 10-day consultation period, which will end on Saturday, saying it lacks sincerity.
They also said it was unacceptable that the public had not been given adequate time to voice concern over the project's grave ecological impact.
Fisheries experts warn that the dam is likely to wipe out several endangered fish species, including the Chinese sturgeon and Chinese paddlefish, and deal a devastating blow to the Yangtze's biological diversity.