Mekong dam plans revived

WATER RESOURCES

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti has revived plans for hydro-power dams on the Mekong river worth over 400 billion baht.

Thailand will suffer if it fails to develop the dams as the river offers great benefits, the minister said yesterday during activities to mark World Water Day, which fell on March 22.

Studies by power and water agencies have found three potential sites for dams on the Mekong: the proposed Ban Kum dam in Ubon Ratchathani's Khong Chiam district, in Loei's Pak Chom district, and in Nakhon Phanom's Tha Uthen district.

The dams could generate combined electricity of 4,000 megawatts, Mr Suwit said.

"Other Mekong countries have already taken benefits from the river but Thailand has done nothing," he said.

"Water from the Mekong river can not only feed farmland but also generate electricity for our people."

Thailand has 132 million rai of farmland, but irrigation systems cover only 30%. The Mekong dams would help supply water to water-starved fields, he said.

Mr Suwit said the government would design the dams to minimise the impact on the environment.

Environmentalist Montree Chantawong, of the Foundation for Ecological Recovery, said the dams would destroy the river ecology and the livelihoods of those who depend on it.

No matter how well the government designs the dams, such large-scale structures and the resulting change to the river flow would damage the ecosystem, he said.

Water Resources Department chief Siripong Hungsapreuk said China would be asked to share information on managing the Mekong.

Mekong riparian countries have repeatedly expressed concern about the impact of Chinese dams on the river's water volume downstream.

Thai villagers living along the Mekong suspect the unusual flooding last year was the result of an abrupt release of water from the Chinese dams.