Amazon rainforest dam plan under more fire

Plans to build a new dam on the Xingu river, which flows through the Amazon rainforest, have been further criticised a day after they were approved by the Brazilian government.

Rock star and keen environmental campaigner Sting, who has previously said the dam should not go ahead, has repeated his comments and Xingu Roman Catholic Bishop Erwin Krautler has also said the project could be "extremely harmful" to the area.

Many critics of the hydroelectric dam claim it will lead to higher levels of rainforest deforestation and accuse the Brazilian government of not consulting indigenous people in the plan.

Once built, the dam will provide power to around 23 million homes. It will be built on an area of 500 square kilometres instead of the 5,000 square kilometre area initially earmarked for the build.

"The environmental impact exists but it has been weighed up, calculated and reduced," said environment minister Carlos Minc.

Written by Kimberley Homer. ADNFCR-2073-ID-19594212-ADNFCR