Chinese Government Approves Controversial Dam Project in Southwest China

According to a South China Morning Post report (subscription required), the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC), a central government agency, has reversed a previous suspension of work and approved a controversial dam project along the Nujiang River in Yunnan province.

Several dam projects in Yunnan province have prompted opposition from Chinese environmental groups, which worry about the impact of these projects on one of China's most biodiverse regions. The vocal opposition of such groups appears to have led the Chinese government to suspend the Nujiang project last spring. The SDRC's decision on the Nujiang project apparently approves a somewhat revised construction plan having fewer dams than initially planned.

Further information is available in a New York Times article (subscription required).