Good for the cows but not the people - Ing River in Chiang Rai running dry

 

Image: 77kaoded

 

Thailand's drought crisis is being felt very keenly in several districts of Chiang Rai in the north where the Ing River - an important tributary of the Maekhong River -  is running dry.

 

77kaoded went to Therng district where large sandbanks have appeared in the Ing River.

 

 

Some areas have been turned into hundreds of rai of pasture for cows.

 

But people are complaining that they do not have enough fresh water for their needs.

 

Two of Thailand's ongoing crises, the drought and the forest fires, have taken a back seat to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, notes Thaivisa, though neither have gone away. 

 

Source: 77kaoded

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-04-18

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

If we don't get a decent wet season,this place will start to resemble Mali or Chad,or one of those sahel countries

Since I only live a few kilometers from the Ing River I thought I might pop over and take a few photos at our nearest bridge. We are 30+ km north of Thoeng where the articles photos were taken, I believe.  While our water levels are quite low, the cows are still high up on the banks of the river where they always are but there were a couple of vehicles parked down by the waters edge.  There was a large gathering of open billed storks enjoying the shallow waters.

 

 

 

 

At another location on the Ing River the low water has made the building of a new bridge that much easier.

 

 

Thanks for very interesting pictures.

Is that the new AH3 highway near Ban Ta?

Where will it go to Khuntan, Phaya Mengrai seems a big road for such a small place?

52 minutes ago, RubbaJohnny said:

Thanks for very interesting pictures.

Is that the new AH3 highway near Ban Ta?

Where will it go to Khuntan, Phaya Mengrai seems a big road for such a small place?

It starts near the turnoff to go over Phaya Phipak heading to Phu Chi Fa.  It misses Phayamengrai and heads to the intersection at Sop Pao.  All I really need is the section from 1174 to Sop Pao as that will cut something like 6 km off my drive to town.  The sections that are finished are really nice.

 

 

I believe this highway is supposed to connect to China, is that correct? 

12 minutes ago, rosst said:

I believe this highway is supposed to connect to China, is that correct? 

This is more of a local connect from Chiang Kong to Chiang Rai, in my opinion, but in theory there will be trucks moving commodities over the Lao border and into Thailand.

 

The existing routes are mainly two lane and go through many villages.

Very strange.  There must be more people than just you who will benefit from this rather massive highway project.  

 

Looking at Google Earth, I am really having trouble with any justification for this project?  Given the roads already in the area, who makes decisions on which pork projects to build?

I don't see it as strange at all.  One reason there isn't more going on between Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong is because the road system is not adequate.  They built a new bridge over the Mekong, there are plans for a rail line to Chiang Khong and they have already converted most of the road from Chiang Khong to Thoeng from two lane to divided highway.

 

Planners are looking to the future, not the past, and taking it one step at a time.  People argued against the East and West bypass roads but they get more use everyday.  I am not saying there is no corruption but that is no reason to do nothing, in my opinion.