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dam-l LS: New Lawsuits Could Delay Ralco dam Again



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Date: April 4, 2000
Subject: New Lawsuits Could Delay Ralco dam Again
Source: CHIP News
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        Work on the controversial 570 MW Ralco hydroelectric dam project,
due to start up again on Tuesday, was challenged this weekend by two new
legal actions questioning the legality of the project.

        One lawsuit, a writ of protection brought by two indigenous
Pehuenche sisters, Nicolasa and Berta Quintreman, asserts that Chile's
Indigenous Law was circumvented when final authorization for the project
was granted on the last day of the outgoing government of President
Eduardo Frei.  The other lawsuit, brought by property owner Maria Eugenia
Sola, questions the settlement amount offered by Endesa for inundating her
1,000 hectares of land.

        If work commences on the project, as ordered over the weekend by
Endesa General Manager Francisco Garcia, more than 1,300 workers,
including 280 Pehuenche, will return to their construction jobs.  Endesa
called a halt to work at the beginning of March because it lacked approval
for the hydroelectric generator and corresponding power lines necessary to
continue with the project.

        But following the publication of two decrees granting these rights
in the Official Gazette two weeks ago, the company said it would resume
work promptly.  Around 30 percent of the dam had been completed and US$154
million of a total of US$540 million invested when the project ground to a
halt.

        Lawsuits by the Quintreman sisters on behalf of the nine 
indigenous families opposed to the project have dogged progress on the
project for several years.  Still, indigenous people have been divided
over the Ralco dam because of the jobs it has provided.

        Dam opponents argue that indigenous ancestral homelands, the rich
and unique biodiversity of the region and excellent tourism
prospects.  Those in favor of Ralco say this is a necessary sacrifice for
a power station that could provide 18 percent of Chile's electricity
needs.


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Ignacio Fernandez A.
International Rivers Network				    Internet Coordinator
http://www.irn.org/						 ignacio@irn.org
Phone: 510-848-1155 ext.307				       Fax: 510-848-1008
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