Translated by Tashi Namgyal
Edited by Yangchen Tso
The Chinese government reportedly has begun the forced relocation of the Atsok monastery to facilitate the construction of a Hydropower station in breach of the Machu River and forcibly ordered the whole Thangnok village to relocate.
As China has planned to construct the Yangchil hydropower station at the breach of the Machu River in Dragkar county, Tsolho prefecture, Tibet, the nearby Atsok monastery, Dechen ChoeKhor Ling, was ordered to relocate to the Chokar Naglo. This mountain area is three to four kilometers away from Palkha township. Recently, the Chinese government even hosted a function to construct the Yangchil hydropower plant and relocate the Atsok monastery. Following the event, reportedly, the relocation of the Atsok monastery was implemented, and further orders were made for the relocation of the whole Thangnok village.
The Chinese government has issued a notification about the withdrawal of Atsok Monastery from the Cultural Heritage Preservation list and stated, “Whether Atsok monastery has cultural heritage values or not is reexamined per the Cultural Heritage Protection Republic of China and contemporary heritage identification management unit through inviting professionals, site study, reading materials, enquiring to monk, nuns and devotees, collecting suggestions from concerned offices and holding analytic assemblies. As a result, the assembly hall and Jamkhang of Atsok monastery is reportedly identified as duplicates of cultural heritages and suggested to the concerned authorities to withdraw it from cultural heritage preservation list. The tourism radio station of the county analyzed it and reported i22nd the 22nd executive assembly of the district government. Finally, it has been approved to withdraw Atsok monastery from the cultural heritage preservation of Dragkar county.”
From 26 December 2021 onwards, a research group has frequently examined Yangchil hydropower station, and Machu Gangsi, an electricity engineering construction company of the Yellow River, is primarily responsible for its operation. The Chinese government announced that the National Development and Reform Commission had granted permission to operate the hydropower project, and the plan was to complete the construction from 2021 to 2023.
The hydropower plant is being constructed at the junction of Dragkar County and Mangra County in Karmo Yeachil Valley on the Machu River. According to the Chinese authorities notification, the plant’s power generation capacity is 120 KWh, and after completion, it will be able to generate 47/32 KWh hourly.
