EDITORIAL
Floods revive dam debate
- Published: 19/08/2011 at 08:36 AM
- Newspaper section: News
It has become an established pattern. For the past two decades, whenever provinces in the lower North are hit with prolonged inundation or flash floods, the debate on the controversial Kaeng Sua Ten Dam starts all over again. This year is no different.
With Sukhothai and Phitsanulok provinces submerged by flooding from the tropical storm Nock Ten, supporters of the dam led by powerful politicians and provincial authorities have been quick to push for construction of the gigantic 12-billion-baht dam on the Yom River, which they claim will prevent future floods once and for all.
The opponents, led by the Sa-iab villagers in Phrae's Song district and the environmentalists, have also been equally quick to counter the claims about the benefits of such a dam. If past records are anything to go by, the debate usually dies down when the floods subside, waiting to be resuscitated by the next flood.
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