Laos tragedy sparks worry over Thailand’s small dams and reservoirs

By The Nation

 

 

AN ACADEMIC has voiced concerns about the maintenance of almost 9,000 small dams and reservoirs in Thailand following the Laos dam tragedy.

 

“Small dams are now put under the care of local administrative bodies, not the Royal Irrigation Department. Can tambon administrative organisations handle such a task efficiently?” Asst Professor Anurak Sriariyawat, who heads the Department of Water Resource Engineering of Chulalongkorn University’s (CU) Faculty of Engineering, asked at a seminar yesterday. 

 

On July 23, a saddle dam of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project burst in Laos, sending 5 billion cubic metres of water from the mountain to at least 13 villages downstream.

 

Lao authorities have said the tragedy caused 10 deaths and more than 100 people are still missing. |Other sources have estimated higher |casualties. 

 

In the wake of the tragedy, several CU lecturers came together to discuss risks in Thailand, at a seminar titled “Dam Collapse: Is it a Lao Matter or Our Matter?”

 

Anurak said he did not worry about big dams in Thailand because these structures had usually received good maintenance and checks. “But I am worried about 800 medium dams and about 8,000 small reservoirs,” he said. 

 

 

He said he had heard that some medium dams have had leakage problems and he is not sure how small reservoirs are being checked and repaired. 

 

Anurak urged all relevant Thai organisations to learn from the Lao incident to draw up efficient plans for the country. 

 

He said between 5 and 10 per cent of Thai reservoirs were built to prevent floods, but most were constructed |to store water for use during the dry season. 

 

 Meanwhile, floods and landslides wreaked havoc in many parts of Thailand yesterday in the face of downpours and the overflowing Mekong River. 

 

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department warned people in 21 provinces to brace for possible flash floods and landslides. 

 

At risk are Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Nan, Tak, Phetchabun, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Ubon Ratchathani, Kanchanaburi, Sa Kaew, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Prachin Buri, Trat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun. 

 

Many of these provinces have already been hit with natural disasters. 

 

 

In Nan, at least 261 locals were evacuated because of landslides. At least eight deaths were reported in the past week. 

 

 

In Chiang Rai, a landslide hit a village in Thoeng district yesterday causing the collapse of several houses and shops. There were no casualties. 

 

Thoeng district chief Niwat Ngarmtura said the collapse took place after seven days of heavy rains. “We have noticed water seeping out of the soil surface for some time already,” he said. 

 

 

In Trang, floodwater up to 70 centimetres deep blocked two large sections of Phetkasem highway and affected at least 50 homes in Muang district.

 

In Nakhon Phanom, provincial governor Somchai Witdamrong is now closely monitoring Mekong River’s water level. 

 

“The water level in the province’s Muang district is very high, at 11.85 metres. When the province faced big floods last year, the water level was at 10 metres depth,” he said. 

 

Somchai has already declared eight districts of Nakhon Phanom as flood-hit zones, as floodwaters ravaged farmland and inundated houses there.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30351174

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-01

mai pen rai!!

August and September average of 200- 300mm of rain in most areas mentioned, more pain to come, no lessons have  been taken seriously from prior flooding areas, no rain where I am located just overcast and farmers are still flooding paddies, 

the sequence of storage and release of volume lacks a cohesive strategy from province to province,  done to late or never enough released, 

and the magnificient Chinese dam builders who have no quality checks but are good at rush rush, have caused more pressure on soaked areas. Will the Mekong committee be fired for dereliction of duty, most would not have a clue as to what they were looking at, nice title and benefits.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Laos tragedy sparks worry over Thailand’s small dams and reservoirs

On the upside, if the sparks started a fire, there would be plenty of water to quickly put it out.

 

Small dams and reservoirs failing can lead to small disasters. Thailand is comfortable with that. Happens nearly every day.

 "...I am worried about 800 medium dams... "

Is this what is known a "Dam Envy". I hope they don't think that an injection of candle wax will solve the problem. Otherwise, we better learn how to live under water.

Thailand is never pro-active when it comes to ''Maintenance'' of anything.   Some Ministerial Misfit will make statements about how wonderful everything is and that there is no need for people to worry, even though he doesn't know any more about water management techniques than my Grandmother did !

 

When a Dam has burst and 2-3000 people have perished, or massive floods bigger than those in 2011 occur, sweeping away thousands and flooding the main Industrial area's, the same Misfit and several others with the same title will bla and bullshit on about how many billions of Baht they will spend to stop it happening again, which is just another way of creating a massive slush fund to get their hands on.   Meanwhile; you can be sure none of the aforementioned Morons will be living in flood prone area's !

3 hours ago, jaltsc said:

 "...I am worried about 800 medium dams... "

Is this what is known a "Dam Envy". I hope they don't think that an injection of candle wax will solve the problem. Otherwise, we better learn how to live under water.

maybe something more modern, more hi tech!

 

Superglue and Baking Soda

 

You mean planning ahead? Nah, couldn't be.