A Study on Involuntary Resettlement Outcomes of Myitsone, Upper Paunglaung and Tha Htay Hydropower Projects in Myanmar

Myitsone, Upper Paunglaung (UPL) and Tha Htay (TH) Hydropower projects have been significant drivers of involuntary resettlement in Myanmar.These projects resulted in the relocation and resettlement of affected communities: relocating five villages with 2146 people (out of sixty-three villages with 11807 people) in Myitsone project, twenty-three villages with 9755 people in UPL project and three villages with 1591 people in TH project.Despite differences in project characteristics such as type, size, location, and policy implications, the focus of this study is to assess collective outcomes of resettlement efforts initiated by the project proponents.The research findings indicate that providing monetary compensation alone did not adequately meet the livelihood needs and long-term sustainability of resettled populations.The deficiency in long-term livelihood planning, the absence of income restoration strategies, and a lack of funding for local development initiatives have placed considerable stress on the resettled families.Furthermore, the TH hydropower project has failed to provide replacement agricultural land for resettled communities so far while UPL had provided agricultural land on hilly area without formal land titling process.In contrast, the Myistsone project did offer agricultural replacement land, but it was of poor quality and not suitable for agriculture.On a positive note, the study reveals improvements in physical infrastructure, public basic services, and educational access among resettled communities.As a result, the living standards of resettled households have generally improved, marked by better housing conditions, increased ownership of personal assets, and access to reliable and affordable electricity from the grid.However, the research also highlights that the number of employed family individuals and their average income levels have decreased after resettlement.This has led to greater reliance on nearby forests and casual employment opportunities.Hence, it underscores the significance of giving priority to a blend of strategies involving land substitution and non-land-based solutions in future planning and execution of resettlement programs.