Dams still best way to manage water resources: govt agencies

[webfact]

Dams still best way to manage water resources: govt agencies

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

Somkiat Prachamwong, secretary-general of the Office of National Water Resources, tells the THA2019 conference in Bangkok yesterday.

 

Forum told reservoirs most effective despite signs of environmental damage.

THAILAND clearly has faith in its traditional water-management system to cope with extreme weather brought on by climate change. 

 

However, environmentalists warn that instead of relieving the negative effects of climate change, dams and large-irrigation projects only cause further damage, as dams only intensify the already heavy pressure on the ecosystem. 

 

At a conference on water management and climate change held in Bangkok yesterday, water-management agencies from Asean member states said dams and large-scale irrigation projects remain the authorities’ first choice when it comes to preventing floods and drought, as well as to sustainably divide limited water resources. The forum was entitled “Asia’s Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]”.

 

Similarly, Sanya Saengpumpong, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID)’s irrigation engineering expert, said that despite strong criticism, investment in new large-scale irrigation projects is important for the country to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and achieve SDGs.

 

“Thailand now has its first long-term strategy on water management, while RID and other agencies are focusing on ensuring efficient water supply for all, providing enough water to sustain the country’s economic advancement, preventing water-related disasters, mitigating water pollution and conserving water-head forestland,” Sanya said.

 

“Without dams and other large-irrigation projects being used for water-supply management and control, we will not be able to achieve any of these goals.”

 

He added water management has improved under this junta-led government, as Thailand now has the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) as a centralised water policymaker, contributing to coordinated and efficient implementation of national water-management policies.

 

“Over the last four years, we have built many new reservoirs and increased the total storage capacity nationwide to more than 16 billion cubic metres and expanded irrigated land to 3 million rai [480,000 hectares],” he said.

 

“This ensures that people in newly irrigated areas can expand their farms and boost their income, while at the same time be assured that they will face fewer impacts from flood and drought.” 

 

According to an earlier report, RID director-general Thongplew Kongjun revealed that RID was planning to complete the construction of the 239 remaining new irrigation projects this year. At the end of 2018, the department completed the construction of 2,860 out of 3,099 planned projects.

 

Thongplew also said that under the 2019-2023 water-management strategy, RID will prioritise 10 mega projects worth more than Bt500 billion, such as the Khong-Loei-Chi-Mun water-diversion project. The department will submit these projects to the Cabinet for approval soon. 

 

However, Maha Sarakham University lecturer Chainarong Setthachua warned that these mega-irrigation projects will cause more harm than good. 

 

He said not only will local people suffer significantly from the loss of livelihood from environmental degradation, there will also be clashes and human-rights violations stirred by the lack of public participation.

 

Chainarong cited the conflicts raised by the decision to build the Wangheep Dam in Nakhon Si Thammarat despite objections raised by academics and locals, who said damages to the environment, the river’s ecosystem and people’s livelihood would significantly surpass the actual benefits of the dam. 

 

However, the authorities chose to go ahead with the project and even filed lawsuits against the protesters. 

 

The lecturer also said large-scale irrigation projects and dams were an outdated form of water management and had proved to be ineffective in preventing flood and drought, but have instead intensified water problems.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30362818

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-24

 

[Ossy]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Dams still best way to manage water resources

Excuse me, Mr Somkiat, before you blow a gasket in your planet-saving statements of the obvious, but is there any other way than dams and reservoirs? if there is, please take your travelling circus around the country - like the Junta remote cabinet karaoke gigs - and spread the word . . . rain attracting drones, maybe, or crops trained not to need water? Yeh, that'd sort it.

[joebrown]

I have recently visited 2 major dams (barrages) in Phetchabun province and was shocked by what I saw. I last visited the same dams about 5 years ago, and they both held water at about 70 - 80% capacity. Now, the levels have dropped by about 50% from what they were. It was noticeable that there were distinct high water marks on the banks, and the annual reductions were clearly visible.

If this reduction in levels continues, There could well be water shortage within the next 10 years.

Has anyone else noticed this trend in their province?

[natway09]

Any bright sparks on here can suggest another way to store water other than dams ?

Some of these people just have too much time on their hands

[Ulic]

There is no perfect solution to the world's problems. Every solution is a compromise with strengths and weaknesses. Each solution has to be considered on its own merits. Dams are not all good or all bad. The issue is whether the benefits outweigh the negatives they cause.