Villagers living along the Nam Hai and Hinboun have always experienced regular natural flood events, but in recent years these have sometimes been exacerbated by the first Theun-Hinboun Project. The water added to these rivers by the THPC powerhouse gives some benefit during the dry season by providing improved navigation and more water for livestock and agricultural activities. But in the wet season it can contribute to flooding of villages and rice fields. Also, erosion of riverbanks caused by changes in water levels has affected fish populations.
During planning of the Expansion Project, THPC consulted with downstream villagers, who indicated a strong preference for relocation to flood-safe areas which they had already identified, and requested additional support for dry-season rice cultivation plus improved infrastructure and services. The potential sites named by the villagers were verified by the Social & Environmental Division and agreement was reached on relocation of villages (as outlined in the final RAP).
Relocation Strategy – Main Elements:
• Relocation of villages to flood-safe areas close to existing sites
• Dry-season irrigation systems
• All-weather roads and electricity supply
• Improved health and education facilities
• Technical assistance to reach income targets
Phase 1 relocated nine villages to two large sites at Phoumakneng and Phousaat between 2009 and 2012. Grouping villages in this way follows government policy for provision of services, but at the same time two other villages chose separate sites close to main roads. Phase 2, from 2013-17, relocated 12 villages along the Nam Hinboun and instituted livelihood initiatives, including provision of new and improved irrigation schemes.
As such total of 23 villages, 1,905 HHs and over 8,000 people original located along Nam Hai and Nam Hinboun River had been relocated to new 8 villages from 2009 – 2017, whist Thasala village was original located close to Nam Gnouang dam and thereafter had been relocated to new location in 2012 due to high risk of land erosion and disrupted by the smelly from NG dam COD.
Due to The License Agreement (LA) identifies attainment of income targets as the main indicator of livelihoods restoration. Thus, the village income target achievement is the final official step in recognition and formal acknowledgement by the government that all THPC obligations have been met in a village.
From 2016 – 2022, THPC conducted a socio-economic survey in all target villages and conducted a detailed review of income monitoring and income-target determination that led to the adoption of consumption as the metric for evaluation of income, a method that more accurately determines income levels in rural villages. The monitoring results show all relocation villages have met or exceeded their income targets in 2022, as well as THPC has fulfilled its obligations on livelihood restoration as required by the License Agreement (LA) in which have been formal approved by the Resettlement Committee (RC) of THPC Expansion Project Khammouane Province.
Following completion of the relocation and provision of all associated infrastructure and livelihoods restoration programs , THPC has fulfilled its obligations in downstream villages and commenced community development planning using bottom-up approaches in 2018.
Click here to download the schedule for relocation of downstream villages.