Experts from Thailand, China clash over the damming of Mekong

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION 

 

FILE photo

 

CHINESE experts who insist that hydropower projects on the Mekong River will benefit all stakeholders met opposition yesterday when a Thai academic argued that locals lose more than they gain since dams impact heavily on every aspect of their lives.
 

Academics and experts from China told a seminar on “The Sustainable Development of Water Resources” at Chulalongkorn University that hydropower development on the Mekong mainstream is sustainable and would bring overall benefits to all residents of the river basin.

 

While accepting that dams had adverse impacts on the environment, river ecosystem, and the livelihoods of local people, the Chinese delegates said these could be mitigated by technology and good management.

 

China is among the biggest investors in Mekong hydropower, having so far constructed eight dams on the upper reaches of the river, and “currently work on” two massive hydropower projects downstream in Laos – the Pak Beng Dam and Pak Lai Dam.

 

Feng Yan, an academic from Yunnan University in China, claimed a survey on the impacts of the Nuozhadu Dam in Yunnan province showed that proper management and planning could ensure resettled residents enjoy a better quality of life.

 

Feng said the 2015 survey on 242 relocated families revealed they now had a higher average income and living standards despite having to change their way of life and livelihoods after moving to their new homes.

 

The Nuozhadu Dam is one of the largest on the upper Mekong, with a generating capacity of 5,850 megawatts.

 

More than 43,000 people had to be relocated after its completion in 2012, according to International Rivers, environmentalist group.

 

Questionable survey

 

“People in the studied group have been resettled in modern high-rise residential buildings, which allow them to access electricity and tap water. They also have greater and easier access to education and healthcare compared to their old homes in rural farming villages,” Feng said.

 

She said this was a result of good management and planning by the project owner and authorities, which could be replicated elsewhere on the Mekong.

 

However, Chainarong Setthachua, a lecturer at Maha Sarakham University, questioned the results of the survey, pointing out they ran counter to many other similar academic studies, in Thailand and elsewhere, that found relocated residents suffered severe negative impacts that increased social problems.

 

“Even though their new home may be convenient and modern, the displaced still face great difficulties from sudden changes to every aspect of their lives, while the many who fail to adapt to their new livelihoods can fall victim to unemployment or human trafficking,” Chainarong said.

 

“These people lose not only their home, but also their knowledge of the local environment and natural resources that sustain them. Finding new careers and job training are not the answer for this problem, as not all people can suddenly adapt to their new way of life.”

 

He added that resettlement also damages communities by dismantling social structures and tearing families apart.

 

“Hydropower development on the Mekong River is not sustainable, as it contributes to social injustice and does not take into consideration the real social and environmental impacts of projects,” Chainarong added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349056

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-02

“People in the studied group have been resettled in modern high-rise residential buildings, which allow them to access electricity and tap water. They also have greater and easier access to education and healthcare compared to their old homes in rural farming villages,”

 

Maybe the locals don't want that. Anyways, battle lost; China always wins.

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

“People in the studied group have been resettled in modern high-rise residential buildings, which allow them to access electricity and tap water. They also have greater and easier access to education and healthcare compared to their old homes in rural farming villages,” Feng said.

In all the stories about forced relocation and resettlement that I have ever read, there are always promises made to the people which sound wonderful.

 

And, every time I see a follow up story at a later time, it is a story of promises not kept.

 

I can think of no reason to believe that this time would be different.

 

 

China can take all that water while it's still in China and there's nothing they can do about it.

 

They could also put a 'meter' on it and make it pay as you go. This is what Thailand does when you pump water from a well inside Thailand, isn't it ?

 

In another TVN headline today:

"China-Thailand friendship a model for new type of international relations"

I doubt this squabble over the Mekong water will have much impact on this wonderful endearing and enduring friendship between Thailand and China.

Thailand will just roll over on it's back and China will rub it's tummy to make the pain go away.

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

China can take all that water while it's still in China and there's nothing they can do about it.

 

They could also put a 'meter' on it and make it pay as you go. This is what Thailand does when you pump water from a well inside Thailand, isn't it ?

 

I'm sure Auss does it as well, & also includes the run off to fill a farm dam 

So, the river is to become one of dams, miles of ugly and barren concrete escarpments, and displaced villagers living in concrete high-rises.  The virus with shoes continues to decimate all around him. The gods are weeping.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

While accepting that dams had adverse impacts on the environment, river ecosystem, and the livelihoods of local people, the Chinese delegates said these could be mitigated by technology and good management.

The Chinese can't be trusted, PERIOD!  They always have ulterior motives....Case in point, how they pretended to assist Sri Lanka financially,  put them into heavy debt and then ended up "stealing" a major port.  The Chinese are doing this all over the world, especially third world countries.

 

 

 

15 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

The Chinese can't be trusted, PERIOD!  They always have ulterior motives....Case in point, how they pretended to assist Sri Lanka financially,  put them into heavy debt and then ended up "stealing" a major port.  The Chinese are doing this all over the world, especially third world countries.

 

 

 

As did the US.

Wow, I wonder who'll win this argument.

Edited July 2, 20188 yr by seminomadic

 Chinese just insist on destroying eco systems, from standards of buildings seen first hand built so quickly have defects that become apparent shortly after, 

The dynamite blasting of in situ rocks within the river house eco systems that are critical to the health of the river and spawning of some fish species.

Surely they could build a solar megawatt plant between the whole group of countries that use and live and feed off the river, 

years after these dams have been built that studies show the decline in quality of water sustainability,  and the out flow mouth of the river becomes silted by none flushing, 

So for a river that starts in Tibet and flows to the south China sea a 4620km trip that feeds and provides for 60, odd million people ,

We allow money to dictate and destroy all things precious, 

The Chinese offered the same argument, "your lives will be better", when the CCP took over Tibet, which they classified as an impoverished, feudal domain. 

 

Not one Tibet person would agree that life is better under commie rule.

1 hour ago, Jeremy50 said:

So, the river is to become one of dams, miles of ugly and barren concrete escarpments, and displaced villagers living in concrete high-rises.  The virus with shoes continues to decimate all around him. The gods are weeping.

 

If gods existed yes, they would be weeping.

2 hours ago, BuaBS said:

As did the US.

Oh really?

You mean, if the US did something it is ok for China to do the same or worse?

This is about what China does to the Mekong, directly interfering into Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Now explain please which river in the US also runs in Canada, Mexico, ehhhh.

Edited July 2, 20188 yr by hansnl

someone needs to knock china on its arse, it is destroying so many other countries with its policies in their attempt to be number one, problem is everyone else is too gutless to take it to them

22 minutes ago, hansnl said:

Oh really?

You mean, if the US did something it is ok for China to do the same or worse?

This is about what China does to the Mekong, directly interfering into Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Now explain please which river in the US also runs in Canada, Mexico, ehhhh.

The Colorado River.  I understand that it is so used that it never reaches the sea.

Go see Sam Phan Bok now while you can.  Once the dam is completed down river it will be covered all year.

 

3 hours ago, chingmai331 said:

The Chinese offered the same argument, "your lives will be better", when the CCP took over Tibet, which they classified as an impoverished, feudal domain. 

 

Not one Tibet person would agree that life is better under commie rule.

Yes. Not one real Tibetan and not a transplant Chinese one. Chinese Government is an evil empire at best. 

That 'protester' will either shortly be receiving 'attitude adjustment' or an 'enhanced' brown envelope; i'm not sure which !

52 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

Chinese Government is an evil empire at best. 

I reckon you could broaden that statement to include a lot more than the "Chinese government" if we look back at the last 50 years the worlds "policeman" has a lot more to answer for 

16 minutes ago, CGW said:

I reckon you could broaden that statement to include a lot more than the "Chinese government" if we look back at the last 50 years the worlds "policeman" has a lot more to answer for 

Yes in a sense. But I am only looking at the present current situation and at least the others are not claiming an entire sea even in a countries back yard area, or over running little good countries like Tibet or threatening to reign Taiwan back in as they are considered renegade dogs that need to be under the Chinese leash. Last would be making hand out loans and then making sure it is un pay backable. China is a country that needs to be reckoned with now and not later. Pushy little no good government. 

2 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

Pushy little no good government

Surrounded on all sides by the biggest warmonger modern history has seen? 

Difficult to take sides as you can argue either way, dependant on your political beliefs, my view is that "globalism" and all that entails is winning.

Too late for Thailand. The Chinese enslave other countries by offering them cheap credit, infrastructure projects, etc and then start calling the shots when the countries are knee deep in debt. They are imperialists and should be held in their own reservoir.

6 hours ago, hansnl said:

Oh really?

You mean, if the US did something it is ok for China to do the same or worse?

This is about what China does to the Mekong, directly interfering into Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Now explain please which river in the US also runs in Canada, Mexico, ehhhh.

I was commenting on flyingtlger's post .

Read : Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

US did the same .

 

 

9 hours ago, Jeremy50 said:

So, the river is to become one of dams, miles of ugly and barren concrete escarpments, and displaced villagers living in concrete high-rises.  The virus with shoes continues to decimate all around him. The gods are weeping.

 

check out 'Nuozhadu' on say Google earth Pro, on a Historical Images search!   That massive river flooder scheme began 2005; then by 2007, view the flooding expand... all the way to now

 

 

it leaves 5 down river countries open to ransom

8 hours ago, hansnl said:

Oh really?

You mean, if the US did something it is ok for China to do the same or worse?

This is about what China does to the Mekong, directly interfering into Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Now explain please which river in the US also runs in Canada, Mexico, ehhhh.

How about the Colorado river which is a salt marsh by the time it gets to Mexico. But no way is the US in the same league as China or matter of fact Great Britian in there empire days.

To get what they want the Chinese are more than happy to destroy there enviroment and everyone elses

Thai officials have a dramatic hissy-fit to make it look good whilst it's news and then meekly acquiesce when no-one is looking.