Tambon Sa-Ieab Residents Protest Dam Plans Threatening Forests

Yesterday, around 150 residents from Tambon Sa-Ieab in Phrae's Song district staged a protest against the proposed Kaeng Sue Ten dam project. Gathering at Wat Sri Don Chai, the demonstrators, led by Nattapakul Srikhampha, opposed the plan, fearing it would affect thousands of households and destroy over 10,000 rai of prime forest.

The protestors voiced their concerns about caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s initiative to revive the 200-billion-baht water management project aimed at mitigating flooding in the Yom River basin. Additionally, they criticized former Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi for supporting the dam's construction.

“The dam would block 11 tributaries but leave 66 downstream unaffected,” Nattapakul highlighted. A United Nations FAO study indicated the dam would only reduce flooding in the Yom River basin by 8%, offering minimal benefit.

Furthermore, the project risks significant environmental damage, potentially devastating 40,000 to 60,000 rai of forest, which could exacerbate droughts and floods. There’s also a dire risk as the proposed site rests on a fault line, posing a catastrophic threat if the dam failed.

Residents urged the government to abandon the dam project and consider sustainable water management solutions. Prasitphon Kala-onsri, another protest leader, vowed continuous resistance from the affected villages of Don Chai, Mae Ten, Don Kaew, and Don Chai Sakthong.

The protest comes amidst ongoing floods in three northern and one northeastern provinces. Persistent rain has affected 223 villages and 3,979 families, claiming 22 lives since August 16. The government is being called upon to adopt more innovative and eco-friendly methods to manage water resources effectively.

By Ryan Turner

Caretaker deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, Image courtesy of The Nation

-- 2024-09-02

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