Shan villagers concern for their healths as gas pipelines has some holes

Worry and distress has been haunting the Shan farmers from Namkham, a Sino-Burma border town in northern Shan State since the gas pipeline project were not properly connected and it seems the pipelines has some holes. They are very much concern because it might lead to further harm and leaking and would cost the general welfare of the locals, SHAN news reported. Beset

Numerous people together with two political parties from Namkham went to visit the area last Monday only to find out that there are holes on the pipelines.

They asked the intervention of two Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) representatives who are set to visit China to inform the government of China about the problem.

Furthermore, they are bothered by the transmitting of gas that will happen next month if the pipelines lying near Kunlong village in Namkham Township on Namkham-Wanmaw Highway will not be given immediate action.

A request letter has been forwarded to the Chief Minister of Shan State early this month proposing to conduct a review regarding the gas pipeline project. Unfortunately up to this time no response was received.

Sai Aye, a farmer from Namkham disclosed that they are ready to initiate a protest against the Shwe project if the government will not give a clear answer and solution to the problem.

The Northern Shan State Farmers Association stressed and requested to the Chief Minister not to release the gas through the pipelines in May or June until such time that the pipeline is totally secured and fixed.

The petition letter addressed to the Chief Minister contains questions like who will take responsibility in case the pipeline is damaged or will leak or in the event that it will explode. For sure this entails danger to the lives of the people living along that region and damage to property is highly expected. They even emphasized on who would pay for the damage; is it the company or the government or even from the Chief Minister?

Sometime in March a petition has been filed by NGO and CSO organizations, Northern Shan State Farmers Association and Chiang Mai based Shan rights groups against the Shwe pipeline project. The Chinese Consulate in Chiang Mai was given a copy of this petition letter, the report said. Original source: http://www.betweenonline.com/2013/05/01/shan-villagers-concern-for-their-healths-as-gas-pipelines-has-some-holes/