Controversial hydropower projects defended by owner Duc Long Gia Lai Group, owner of two hydropower projects in Dong Nai Province, claimed that these plants would cause less harm to the environment than public concerns suggest.   The expected locations of Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A hydropower projects The group sent an official document to the Government Office and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on September 19 to explain  their environmental assessment reports concerning the Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A projects. The move follows a recent request from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment that these projects must be re-evaluated due to their potential negative impact on the environment. According to the group, these projects would cause much less forest destruction than several other hydropower projects. “The construction of the 135-MW Dong Nai 6 would destroy 197.6 hectares of forest in total, or, a ratio of 1.27 hectares per megawatt of electricity. The figures for Dong Nai 6A would be 174.5 hectares of forest destroyed in total, or 1.44 hectares per MW. The figures are much lower than those for other projects in the central highlands region (14.5 hectares per MW). At Dong Nai 3 it's 31.55 hectares of forests per MW and at Tri An, 80.75 hectares of forests per MW,” the Group said. The group also claimed Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A would use modest areas of land due to its design. In response to the concern about potential impacts on Bau Sau or Crocodile Lake Wetlands, the group affirmed that these projects would improve the regulation of the current of Dong Nai River without decreasing the water level or affecting the wetlands. The group also said that Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A are not the only things to blame for hindering the movement of marbled eel, a rare and precious fish species in the river. Another reason, they claim, is the fact that these projects are expected to be sandwiched between other already completed hydropower facilities. They asserted that the construction of power transmission lines and supporting works would cause no harm to the Cat Tien National Park as suggested, because these facilities would be built outside the park. According to the group, the lives of people in the surrounding area would not be affected as they won't have to move away. However, they admitted that the construction of these projects would affect the livelihood of at least 163 local households who live by fishing. They added that they are continuing the environmental assessment reports, so as to give further details about related issues. By Tung Nguyen | dtinews.vn