More than a hundred Tibetan families from Mardang village in the Golok region of Tibet were relocated due to the construction of a new hydropower station on the Machu River. The Tibet Times reported that these families were moved to Bathang County and Ragya Township to make way for the Mardang hydroelectric power plant.
According to sources, the families were compensated for their relocation, though the amount was not specified. The relocation was part of a larger effort to build the highest altitude hydroelectric plant on the Machu River. Despite the compensation, the project has sparked concerns among locals. The construction has led to the submersion of significant local landmarks, including the ruins of the Kagyu monastery and the mountain of the deity Ama Ajam Lhamo.
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The ancient forest of Ragya, referred to as “the second Tibet,” is also threatened by submersion due to the dam. The river near Mardang has already diminished in size, allowing locals to cross on foot where a bridge was once necessary. However, this change poses a risk of flooding to nearby Jigu village and Ragya monastery if the dam were to be damaged.
This hydroelectric project initially faced delays due to unpaid wages to workers but resumed on June 21, 2021. The plant is set to have a capacity of 550,000 kW. Concerns remain about the environmental and cultural impact of such projects in historically significant and ecologically sensitive regions of Tibet.
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