Mizzima News

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - The US $ 120 million Kaladan multi-modal project that will connect India’s Kolkata city with Burma’s western city of Sittwe, will have an impact on the lives of several villagers in at least four villages in Chin and Arakan States in Burma, campaigners said.

Aung Marm Oo, Director of the Arakan Rivers Network (ARN), on Tuesday said at a press briefing in Chiang Mai in Thailand that the proposed project will devastate the lives of people living in Sittwe, Pongnakyun, and Kyaukthaw towns in Arakan state while in Chin state, people of the Paletwa township will pay a heavy price for the project.

“The first group to be affected is people who earn a living from fishing in the Kaladan River,” Aung Marm Oo said.

The project, which will get off the ground in December, will provide sea access to the land-locked Northeast Indian states.

The project will connect Kolkata in India’s West Bengal state with Sittwe town in Arakan state. And the roadway will connect Mizoram state in Northeast India with Chin state and Arakan states in Burma.

The project, which will be financed by India, will have 539 kilometres of waterway and 225 kilometres of roadway. India and Burma signed the deal in April.

Indian companies Essar Construction (India) Ltd Mumbai, ITD Cementations India Ltd Kolkata, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd Mumbai, M/s Simplex Infrastructure Ltd Kolkata, RDS POSCO JV New Delhi will undertake the project.

The ARN said the project will also include demolition of buildings near the Sittwe port.