New city to be built near vientiane

paris_vientiane · Guru

New city to be built near vientiane

paris_vientiane · Guru

more information about this place, but not about the project:
"That Luang
The That Luang marsh is one of the largest wetlands in peri-urban Vientiane
covering an area of 68 km2. It is one of several depressions in the 500 km2 Houay
Mak Hiao catchment and tributary, which are flooded during the rainy season. In
the southern part of the That Luang marsh, the Houay Mak Hiao meanders for 53
km before it flows into the Mekong River.
Approximately half of That Luang's 2,000 hectares is under hoe cultivation. In
addition, an estimated 15,000 people are involved with fishing-related activities on
both commercial and subsistence levels. Fish ponds are generally located along the
margins of the marsh.
Numerous activities are affecting the wetland’s natural functions. Examples include
the construction a drainage canal through the swamp by the Vientiane municipality
and the construction of a pumping station to remove water for paddy irrigation.
The recently-constructed storm water drainage system for Vientiane is a major
concern as untreated storm water and domestic sewage now discharges directly
into the marsh. Results of water quality studies have also indicated that seepage of
saline groundwater into the marsh may be occurring which would have a dramatic
impact on the marsh ecosystem. Other threats to the That Luang marsh are effluent
discharges from the brewery at Salakham and encroachment by residential housing
development."

source: MRCS Environment Training Program Case Studies 5 2001 (the mekong river commission)
http://www.mrcmekong.org/envir_training_kit/English/Case%20Studies/PDF/CS09%20-%20Vientiane%20Wetlands%20Protection.pdf

-- Edited by paris_vientiane at 14:08, 2007-10-12

samakomlao · Guru

Hi,

And here i found this news in English

That Luang marsh slated for development

Vientiane authorities have agreed to designate That Luang marsh in central Vientiane and surrounding areas as the centre of a new development zone, according to a senior official.

The head of the Vientiane Administration Office, Mr Oudone Xaymontry, said on Wednesday that the agreement to zone the new urban area was made last month; city authorities are now surveying the area and informing local residents of the plans.

“We are in the process of collecting information relating to the area, such as population and farmland,” he told Vientiane Times.

That Luang marsh covers an area of several hundred hectares, beginning at Nongniang Bridge near That Luang village, Xaysettha district, and stretching out into to open rice fields as far as the Beerlao factory in Hadxaifong district.

It cover sections of the three major urban districts of Xaysettha, Sisattanak and Hadxaifong; officials are unsure of the exact number of local residents in the zoned area, most of which is made up of rice fields.

Head of Xaysettha Administration Office Mr Khampan Puangpadith said most of the proposed new development area belonged to local residents, and if Vientiane authorities wanted to use the land, local residents would need to be compensated in accordance with the laws.

He said district officials had met with some local residents and informed them of the planned zoning, and most had been happy with the idea and were willing to give their land to authorities for development.

However, some local residents were demanding higher compensation for their land, above the price named by the state, and district authorities were in discussions with city authorities on how to ensure fair compensation to all local residents.

Mr Oudone revealed that a Chinese company had expressed interest in investing several billion dollars to transform the area from rice fields to a modern town, and that it was willing to compensate landowners in the area.

He said that initially the city authorities had offered the Chinese company land for development at Km 18 on Road No 13 south, near the soon-to-be-completed SEA Games Sports Stadium, but the company considered the area unsuitable and too far from the city centre.

Mr Oudone said the Chinese company was happy with the That Luang marsh area because of its proximity to the city's central districts, and was now preparing to install standard infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water supplies.

In the future, the area will contain business centres, hotels, factories and tourism facilities; the Chinese company wants to create more opportunities for local and international entrepreneurs to do business in Vientiane.

By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update October 12, 2007)

Date: Oct 12, 2007

Here is what IUCN had to say about That Luang Marsh in 2004:

THAT LUANG MARSH HELPS KEEP VIENTIANE’S HEAD ABOVE WATER
The conservation of urban wetlands leads to economic gains for both urban residents and municipal councils, shows the economic valuation of That Luang
Marsh near Vientiane, Lao PDR.
That Luang Marsh, the largest wetland in Vientiane with 20 square
kilometres, generates goods and services with an economic value in
excess of US$ 4.8 million per year. These benefits accrue to the
38,000 people that live directly around the marsh, and the estimated
161,000 residents of Vientiane.
The direct benefits of the wetland, calculated by using market prices
for the products the wetland generates, are just over US$ 2 million
per year, or 40 % of the total wetland value. The wild plants and
animals that are harvested for food and income are worth an
estimated US$ 1,000 per hectare for nearby urban residents.
With an average income per capita in Lao PDR of US$ 381 per year,
this translates into the wetland providing a full livelihood to 16,000
people.
The Marsh’s flood protection and wastewater purification services
have a similar value to the greater Vientiane municipality: The
estimated value for flood protection and wastewater purification is
US$ 2.8 million and US$ 71,000 respectively. Vientiane lies in a
flood prone area, and currently has no waste treatment facilities.
“Far from being a wasteland, That Luang Marsh is actually an
important natural asset that helps to keep Vientiane afloat”, says Mr.
Roland Eve, Country Director of WWF Lao.
The study underlines the point that wetlands often provide the basic
level of urban services that urban residents require to survive and
prosper.
For several decades now, much effort has been invested in draining
and reclaiming wetlands in the world’s cities, so as to make room for
more “development”. But in fact the loss of these natural ecosystems
often takes place at a high economic cost, and undermines many of
the aims of urban development.
That Luang Marsh in Vientiane is a case in point. Already 1,000
hectares have been converted to rice paddies. Today, it continues to
be drained and reclaimed, leading to less food, less income and
more frequent inundation with dirty and polluted water for Vientiane
City’s residents.
“Ecosystem values need to be integrated into development decisions
to avoid that those who benefit from ecosystems, often the poorest
segments of society, bear the costs”, says Ms. Lucy Emerton,
Regional Group Head for the Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group of
IUCN Asia.

paris_vientiane · Guru

yeah! it seams that many people consider it's important to protect this place.... but on the other side, Vientiane strongly need to develop, and this development cannot be done elsewhere.

I usualy think very important to protect environment, but in this case.... Vientiane is the capital....it seems stupid to leave this place blank and extend the city farther from the center of the city.... non sense

But i also worry for me personaly. For me , this news can be a great news or a very bad one.... because my wife's father own land near this place (and he promised to sell it to my wife.... in fact he took the money yet, so we just have to officialy sign the papers to get the land). So there are two possibility: or the land is on the development area, and we would loose everything : we will have to sell the land to this chinese company, and for sure they will pay us a ridiculous price regarding the future value of the land. Or the land is just near this development area and this is a great great news, because this mean living there will become interesting (for now, the land is in the middle of nothing).... maybe i could build my future home there... moreover the land's value would increase a lot.

-- Edited by paris_vientiane at 12:00, 2007-10-13

Date: Oct 13, 2007

new urban not new city,

paris_vientiane · Guru

yeah, you are right, but the project is soooo big....it would extend Vientiane considerably!

Saffron · Senior Member

I love to see more work in the rural area and infrastructure.

chiip · Guru

I love to see more works in rural area and infrastructure sounds better for me too Mr. Saffron...For me, the first plan of something like CHINATOWN is much better than the second one, if the option of the government was the second plan, it should have to take seriously the draining system of thatluang marsh, eco system and the huge benefit local people got from this marsh in reconsideration...
Regards.