Three rivers hydropower development and environmental protection

Author: Feng Jiankun, He Yaohua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: On the Protection and Development of Nujiang
The conference hosted by the Southwest Nationalities Research Society, guided by the Scientific Outlook on Development, discussed the protection and development of Nujiang, which is highly meaningful. I would like to extend my congratulations on the convening of the meeting. I am here to learn. President He Yaohua and Vice President Feng Jiankun asked me to share some preliminary insights and welcome your corrections.
1. Balancing Protection and Development is an Inevitable Requirement of Practicing the Scientific Outlook on Development
I have reviewed the papers of the conference participants and read some works by experts and scholars. It appears that the debate surrounding the development of Nujiang’s hydropower resources is quite intense. It is a good thing to have such discussions. Among them, the about strengthening the protection of the "Three Parallel Rivers" World Heritage site and the about always prioritizing ecological protection before, during, and after hydropower station construction are not only relevant to Nujiang’s development but also hold significant importance for the province’s hydropower development, mining industry, transportation construction, urban and rural development, ecological and environmental protection, the conservation of Yunnan’s biodiversity, and the promotion of the province’s circular economy.
Both sides of the current debate are speaking of the Scientific Outlook on Development, which is a positive development. I believe that adhering to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts and the Scientific Outlook on Development can unify understanding and seek common ground while respecting differences. "People-centeredness" is the core of the Scientific Outlook on Development. Seeking truth from facts requires studying the realities of Nujiang and the actual living conditions of its people. How are the living conditions of the people in Nujiang? It can be said that there has been development and progress, but it remains arduous and challenging. To speak only of protecting Nujiang without developing its hydropower resources would lead to economic stagnation and prevent the people from escaping poverty, making the Scientific Outlook on Development meaningless. Maintaining a "pristine" state of poverty in the hope of future development does not align with the principle of "people-centeredness." Both protecting and developing, with development promoting protection within the framework of protection, is the inevitable choice for practicing the Scientific Outlook on Development.
I have been in Yunnan for 46 years, and my understanding of Nujiang has spanned over 30 years. In 1971, I visited Nujiang for the first time. At that time, the roads were very poor—people had to get out of their vehicles and move stones along the way, and several times they were blocked. The roads were nothing like the smooth asphalt highways we see today. We traveled to Zhiruozhen in Bijiang County and entered a village to find that every household lived in low houses with bamboo walls and wooden roofs, with roofs reaching the sky and wind blowing through all sides, leaving them destitute and with nothing else. Everyone was moved to tears. Even Zhou Xing, the then director of the Provincial Revolutionary Committee, said, "Alas, after the Party has led the people for over 20 years, I never expected it to be this poor." These words left a deep impression on me.
In 1999, in accordance with the decision of the Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee, I, together with Feng Jiankun, organized a visit for grassroots-level representatives to Lahu villages in Lancang County and the Awa mountainous areas. The representatives were deeply moved by the simplicity and poverty of the thatched houses where the Awa and Lahu people lived, and I was reminded of Zhou Xing’s words once again. I felt that without special measures, it would still be the same in another 20 years. We immediately drafted a report titled "On Initiating the Resettlement Project for Extremely Poor Ethnic Minority Areas" and submitted it to the grassroots-level representatives. The Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government attached great importance to this and conducted special research, formulated plans, allocated dedicated funds, and decided to launch the Resettlement Project for Extremely Poor Ethnic Minority Areas starting in 2001, officially replying to the grassroots-level representatives. Recently, I heard that the residents in mountainous areas of the province who are struggling with housing difficulties