Indeed, "WHY ACCEPT THE RISK?"
By Rudy A. Arizala
Kuya Poling Derilo´s recent article in the MIF website "Why Accept the Risk?" is not only timely but a serious food for thought. We should make serious studies and compare it with other dam projects such as those constructed in Paraguay.
In 1988, after my visit to Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina, I sent the following reports to Manila on the two dams being constructed in Paraguay:
"After lunch, we continued our trip stopping at the Yacreta hydro-electric project where a big dam is being jointly constructed by Paraguay and Argentina over the Parana river. "Yacreta" is an Indian word which means "Valley of the Moon". When completed, the Yacreta dam will be 8 kilomeers in length; 200 meters wide and 70 meters high. The surface of the lake created when finished will have an area of 1,800 square kilometers capable of holding 81,000 GWH, which is 65% of the present electric energy needs of Paraguay and Argentina. The Yacreta dam, when finished, would be capable also of irrigating some 140,000 hectares of agricultural lands. The project could involve the transfer or relocation of a town with 25,000 inhabitants, their houses, schools, churches, commercial buildings, hospitals, etc. A part of the city of Encarnacion would also be under water. The project will see to it that the fauna and flora of the locality and the various species of fish in the river are preserved.
"The other huge hydro-electric power dam in Paraguay is the Itaupu Dam. It is 100 meters in height; 8 kilometers in length; and 200 meters wide on top of the dam. The artificial lake created is 1,460 square kilometers in size. It also involve the transfer of thousands of inhabitants, fauna and flora."
Comments
These two dams in Paraguay are not located ar or near earthquake fault lines. However, in the case of the construction of the Laiban and Kanan B-1 dams in Gen. Nakar, harnessing the waters of the Agus River, the risk, according to experts and scientists, arise from the fact that both Laiban and Kanan B-1 structures lies approximately 20 and 10 kilometers away respectively from the Infanta fault lines. Thus, the two Agus river dams pose a great possible risk of deluge in the towns of Real, Infanta, and General Nakar. Furthermore, the height and size of the dam to be constructed in Laiban will be 113 meters high, 500 meters wide and with a reservoir that covers 7 barangays. In other words, the Laiban dam would be much higher and bigger than that of Itaupu and Yacreta dams in Paraguay aside from being at or near the Infanta fault lines.
Indeed, "WHY ACCEPT THE RISK?"