TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Chiapas - The government of the southern state of Chiapas plans to fight construction of three new hydroelectric power plants, officials said.

Chiapas Governor Pablo Salazar Menduguchia said Tuesday the state would oppose the project as long as the federal government and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) refused to cut electric rates.

Chiapas is one of Mexico's largest power producers, but also one of the regions with the highest electricity fees.

Thousands of hectares of land were flooded and dozens of communities were wiped out during construction of the La Angostura, Chicoasen, Malpaso and Peñitas dams, all part of the El Grijalva energy complex.

Construction of the new dams was part of electricity industry reform legislation promoted by the administration of President Vicente Fox.

Salazar criticized the Fox administration for failing to consult him on the construction of three more dams on the Usumacinta River, along the Guatemalan border, and the CFE for attempting to justify the project as an expansion of service and infrastructure.

He also criticized the Fox administration for making important decisions without consulting governors of states directly affected by those decisions.