Dam opponents welcome Balfour decision

The dam has has been controversial in the UK

News that UK company Balfour Beatty is to pull out of the Ilisu dam project has been welcomed by opponents of the project.

The dam has attracted years of controversy because of claims that damming of the River Tigres could displace thousands of people and have a damaging impact on political stability in the region.

The Ilisu Dam is bad for human rights, bad for the environment, bad for regional peace and bad for Britain

Ann Clwyd MP

The British government had said that, subject to certain conditions, it would have been prepared to offer credit insurance to Balfour's contract.

But Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt, and her predecessor Stephen Byers, had stressed that export credit support would only be extended if they were satisfied that the environmental and social impacts were being properly addressed.

Those conditions meant the Turkish government had to draw up an internationally acceptable resettlement programme, take steps to maintain the quality of the water and ensure an adequate supply of water downstream.

Manipulation fears

There are fears that the water supply into both Iraq and Syria could have been manipulated by the Turkish government.

In July Ms Hewitt announced a public consultation on a report that suggested that up to 60,000 people could be affected if the dam went ahead.

Ms Clwyd has been an outspoken opponent

The director of Friends of the Earth, Charles Secrett, said Balfour's decision to pull out of the project was a "tremendous win" for campaigners against the dam.

"However, the government has managed to avoid ever taking a clear decision on this scheme," he said.

"That means that companies seeking future export credits can argue that no clear ethical precedent has been set.

"Balfour Beatty have helped Mr Blair slip off the hook."

He said the whole Ilisu dam saga showed there was a need for laws requiring British companies to adopt "clear ethical and environmental standards in their work abroad as well as at home".

Credits

"Certainly, backing such as export credits should never even be considered in cases which involve such obvious environmental destruction and abuse of human rights," Mr Secrett added.

Labour MP Ann Clwyd, who has been an outspoken campaigner against the dam, was also quick to welcome the news that Balfour had pulled out of the project.

"I hope the British Government will now withdraw from its consideration of support for the project and that it will make the announcement this week," she said.

Ms Clwyd also referred to the fact that many of the people that would be affected by the dam would Kurds.

"The Ilisu Dam is bad for human rights, bad for the environment, bad for regional peace and bad for Britain.

"The government should make its views clear that there can be no British backing for such a controversial project," she said.

Environmental impact

According to the environmental impact assessment report commissioned by the consortium running the project, the dam would create a reservoir covering 300 square kilometres, of which around a quarter is currently first-rate agricultural land.

In all, 183 towns, villages and hamlets would be affected - 82 totally and 101 partially flooded.

Liberal Democrat international development spokeswomen Dr Jenny Tonge pronounced herself delighted that Balfour were pulling out of the project.

"We have been waiting for the government's decision regarding the Ilisu dam for far too long and now it seems that Balfour Beatty have made that decision for them," she said.

"This was a flawed project from start to finish and it is a shame that it has taken so long for this to be realised."