The House committee on foreign affairs is calling for the deferment of an electricity trading agreement with two new hydropower dams in Laos with links to a local firm after reviewing the cross-border impact.
The decision to call for the postponement was made at a meeting to review a petition filed by the Network of Thai Mekong People -- a civil group active in eight provinces, asking for an inspection of the Pak Beng and Sanakham dams on the Lao side of the river over cross-border environmental concerns.
The meeting was attended by committee members, officials from the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, the Royal Thai Survey Department, the Energy Policy and Planning Office and civil society representatives.
Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome, a member of the House committee, on Monday said it was concerned about dam construction projects. A Thai firm is involved in the projects, he said.
"The committee saw nothing that can benefit the country with the construction of such a dam," he said. "Relevant agencies haven't issued a clarification on the matter."
"Hence, the committee agreed to defer the power trade contract and will submit a letter to the Office of the Attorney General, Energy Ministry and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand," he said, adding that the committee will hold a meeting next week to review the matter.
The committee studied the issue thoroughly, but most government agencies failed to answer questions including ones involving environmental impact assessments, he said.
During the meeting, ecologist Montree Chantawong pointed out there was severe erosion on the bank of the river on the Thai side due to the construction of the Sanakham dam. Yet, there has been no clear report from the firm responsible for it, he said.
Conservationist Niwat Roikaew said the Pak Beng construction project has caused water levels to increase, and the effect is noticeable near Ban Huai Luek village. "Normally, when the water level recedes, islets will emerge... which can be used by tourists," he said.
"But the dam will increase the water volume causing the islets to remain submerged."