Laos worries about Mekong erosion

Laos worries about Mekong erosion

The Laos Ministry of Public Works and Transport has been urged to speed up construction of an embankment along the Mekong River amid concerns about erosion along its banks.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad has directed the ministry to protect the river banks, pointing out that Thailand has already constructed flood protection embankments, the Vientiane Times reported on Monday.

A report by the National Committee on Borders said Laos had lost more than 80 square kilometres of land along the banks of the Mekong since 1975, according to the deputy prime minister. The problem was due to lack of riverbank protection along various stretches of the river.

Laos spent 300 billion kip (1.15 billion baht) last year to build a river levy in Vientiane to prevent flood overflow from the Mekong into the capital.

Mr Somsavat said the levy was not sustainable in the long run and could be damaged when the rainy season arrives, leading to further loss of land.

The bank erosion along the Mekong River has been discussed between the two countries from the government to local levels.

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