Controversy over new water tunnel network plan in Kanchanaburi’s wildlife sanctuary

[webfact]

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) have come under scrutiny for their plan to build a new water tunnel network in the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchanaburi. The project, designed to combat summer droughts, has sparked concerns among local conservationists due to its potential impact on the local ecosystem.

 

The RID justifies the project as a necessary measure to alleviate drought and water shortages in the eastern region of Kanchanaburi province, including districts such as Bo Phloi, Huay Krachao, Lao Khwan, Nong Prue, and Phanom Thuan. The RID indicated that a thorough environmental impact assessment has been carried out for the project, which is slated for completion between 2027 and 2032. The project, budgeted at 11,758.80 million baht, involves the construction of a 20.5-kilometre water tunnel, reported Bangkok Post.

 

The tunnel will channel water from the Srinakarind Dam, located in the western part of the province, to the Lam Iee Su reservoir. From there, water will be distributed further to the surrounding districts. The RID anticipates that the tunnel will transport approximately 2.97 million cubic metres of water annually, benefiting 486,098 rai of agricultural land.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-12

 

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[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The project, budgeted at 11,758.80 million baht, involves the construction of a 20.5-kilometre water tunnel, reported Bangkok Post.

I can understand the urgency.. 

[Srikcir]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

sparked concerns among local conservationists due to its potential impact on the local ecosystem.

What are those concerns exactly in terms of science? 

Water comes from the Srinakarind Dam. How or to what extent is that dam a water source for the local ecosystem? 

Granted doing a tunnel itself through the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary will have some temporary environmental impacts and the government will have to explain its mitigation/- restoration plans for minimizing such impacts. But the project may provide a temporary economic boost to the area and that should be part of the program.

[The Old Bull]

It's done all the time with oil pipelines. You dig the hole, topsoil to one side the rest to the other. You plant the pipe and fill it in replanting whatever you destroyed in the process. After a couple of years everybody has forgotten there is a pipe there.

[cowellandrew]

Father inlaw worked of irrigation dep,

Brother inlaws both worked for irrigation dep,kanchanaburi 

They dug a concrete lined cannel through a neighbours farm it's full of weeds and never seen water yet!

[cowellandrew]

5 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

It's done all the time with oil pipelines. You dig the hole, topsoil to one side the rest to the other. You plant the pipe and fill it in replanting whatever you destroyed in the process. After a couple of years everybody has forgotten there is a pipe there.

Check out the gas pipe line that's from burma to Thailand here!