The mighty Irrawaddy is one of the longest rivers in Southeast Asia. The source of Myanmar's life artery is found in Kachin State, at the confluence of the Mali and N'Mai rivers. About 1,348 miles (2,170 kilometres) southwards the river discharges in the delta and finally, in to the Andaman Sea.
But the river, upon which so many depend, needs work.
Wim van Driel, programme manager at Delta Alliance, an international knowledge network of organizations that operate in river deltas around the world, recently visited the Irrawaddy delta with a group of Dutch experts. Van Driel and his colleagues were collecting data that will be used in a nationwide Integrated Water Resouces Management (IWRM) study financed by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment. The data collection itself was financed by the Global Water Partnership and the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project.
The research team talked to stakeholders on many levels: academics, local government staff and non-governmental organizations to get a clear view of the vulnerabilities. What were the main problems the team registered in the delta?
"Salt intrusion is the biggest problem. Sea water is penetrating ever deeper into the delta, especially in the dry season," Van Driel said. "Climate change will only worsen the problem. The result is less availability of clear water for agriculture. Salt intrusion also forces farmers to change the way they work. They have to reduce the frequency of crops. In the southern part of the delta drinking water is lacking. People depend on rain water harvesting."
These are not the only water-related problems Myanmar is facing, explained Tjitte Nauta, an advisor on integrated water resources management at Deltares, an independent research institute for applied research in the field of water. "Water management in Myanmar was severelyneglected for decades under the former military government. The problems are large and complex. They include flood protection, sediment depositing, water quality and water supplies."
Another hot topic is dams. The government's current inability to provide Myanmar with sufficient electricity – 40 million people are not on the grid – is one of the motivating forces behind the push for more dams.
Not everybody is happy with the proposed dam projects on the Thanlwin River, financed with Thai and Chinese money. In February, Karen River Watch asked the government to reevaluatesix hydro-power projects that it claims will provide little benefit for the affected ethniccommunities in the Shan, Kaya, Kayin and Mon States.
On June 18 Deputy Minister for Electric Power U Maw Thar Htwe told parliament that the dams will generate revenue of US$540 million (about K530.3 billion) a year by the 2030/31 fiscal year. The deputy minister told the Pyithu Hluttaw the benefits of the dam projects would include job opportunities, improved transport and better regulated water flows. In 2020/31 Myanmar would be able to provide enough electricity for the people who live without power, U Maw Thar Htwe said. The six dams will increase the output from 4,362 megawatts at presentto 23,594 megawatts a year.
Thura U Shwe Mann, Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw, added that planning for the dams had taken into account compensation for those who would be affected by the projects. What will happen to the Myitsone dam project is unclear. The US$3.6 billion project, financed by the China Power Investment Corporation, was halted in September 2011 by President U Thein Sein, who announced the project would be paused during his tenure.
Nauta has raised doubts about the current decision-making process. "There is very limited knowledge with regards to the implications dam projects can have. River dams are part of a larger system. If you build a dam this might have serious sediment implications downstream for instance. We advocate an integrated approach. You can't plan dams without calculating what it will mean for the basin as a whole," he said.
Governance is one of the focal points of the IWRM strategic study that will be finished in November 2014 as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Dutch government and the government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The MoU, which was signed in May 2013, will also provide advice on hydropower generation and more efficient irrigation methods, without endangering drinking water supplies and navigability of rivers.
To be able to manage water resources efficiently, Myanmar needs know-how and capacity building. Until twenty six years ago, strong ties existed between Yangon Technical University and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft. A whole generation of Myanmar hydrologists was educated in the Netherlands. This generation now comprises an expert groupthat advises the National Water Resources Committee, led by vice president Vice President U Nyan Tun. In the committee, 20 ministries involved in water resources management have joined hands.
After 1988, Myanmar's water experts became isolated from the world community,just when computermodeling became standard practice in hydrology, said Martine Rutten, a lecturer at the Delft Universityof Technology. "They missed out on this. I'm currently in Myanmar to help build capacity. When I assist students and engineers with simple computer calculations their eyes lit up. They can achieve the sameresults as foreign consultants, who are making the rounds in Myanmar right now. There's no magicinvolved. Knowledge can empower them during the gold rush that is unfolding in this transitional period,"she said.
When in Myanmar, Rutten carries a goldmine of satellite data with her on portable hard disks. "Most ofthis remote sensing data is public and freely downloadable. I anticipated low internet speeds and decided to bring the data with me on physical storage for the students to revel in."
During an earlier visit late last year she already provided courses on remote sensing and modeling water flows to engineers at the ministries of Agriculture and Irrigation and Transport and to students at the Myanmar Maritime University.
Rutten is not only educating students, she's also aiding the development of the curriculum at Yangon Technical University. Delft University of Technology and Shell offer scholarships to Myanmar PHD students. Royal Haskoning DHV and Damen Shipyards (the latter is a Dutch company that operatesabout 50 shipyards around the world) both provide education opportunities for Myanmar graduates.
This is great but not enough, says Rutten. "We can't train every Myanmar student in the Netherlands.It would be unpractical and costly. So an upgrade of the curriculum and the teaching methods of YTU isneeded. Myanmar should be able to develop and sustain its own community of well-educated hydrologists."
The Dutch are not just talking the talk. They walk the walk too. During a pilot project the Dutch will take on 70 kilometres of the Irrawaddy river. For instance, they will build groynes that interrupt water flow and limit the movement of sediment. These can also be used to generate electricity on a small scale. The river banks will be beautified as well, to stimulate investment in hotels. The pilot project will cost about $20 million [K19.4 billion]. Private investors as well as the World Bank are going to provide the necessary funding. The project will serve as a best practice for other projects to come.
Not only the Dutch government, the Delft University of Technology, and knowledge networks are involved in the integrated approach the Dutch are promoting. A number of corporations are weighing in,with the probable aim of landing lucrative contracts somewhere down the road. Earlier this month theDutch minister for Infrastructure and the Environment visited Myanmar. She took with her a largedelegation of companies.
Paul van Meel works at Royal Haskoning DHV, an independent, international engineering and project management consultancy with a local office in Yangon. He leads the team that is working on the Integrated Water Resources Management Strategic Study.
The strategic study will be ready in November. What were the preliminary findings?
"There's quite a bit of infrastructure in Myanmar," said Van Meel. "(There is) a network of dykes in the delta and irrigation systems dating from colonial times in the central dry zone. So my mainadvice would be: start with what you have and build on that. What is often missing is drainage.That could be a worthwhile addition. You have to start small and be sensible about it, becausecurrently Myanmar is not developed enough to be able to finance billion dollar projects out ofpocket," he said.
Myanmar government sources claim to be sensible about its water management policies. The government's triplebottom line is: economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially acceptable. In many developing countries lofty ideals go out of the window, though, when big money is involved. Westernorganizations like the World Bank offer money on strict terms regarding accountability and sustainability.Countries that are looking for hassle free loans often engage with China, as is the case in most of Myanmar'sdam projects.
But Van Meel is not pessimistic. "I feel that there's awareness across the population to be carefulwith the environment. Take for instance the halting of the Myitsone dam and the protests against dammingthe Irrawaddy. Maybe cultural or religious factors are at play here, with Buddhism preaching awareness and non-violence."
The IWRM-team compiled a list of steps that need to be taken. After the strategic study is delivered it'sup to the government to develop a national water resources management master plan. "It's important thatwe not only provide a vision, but that the measures we propose are implemented as well, starting in thenext six years. After that, in the 2020-2040 period, bigger projects can be taken on. Water works often take 10 years from planning to delivering," Van Meel said.
This Article first appeared in the July 3, 2014 edition of Mizzima Business Weekly.
Mizzima Business Weekly is available in print in Yangon through Innwa Bookstore and through online subscription at www.mzineplus.com
Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/07/06/myanmar-goes-dutch/
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