Mekong Dam Builders Do Not Care About Ordinary People

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Dam builders do not care about ordinary people

By The Nation

Proposed dam on the Mekong should not go ahead until all social and environmental concerns are addressed

International pressure is mounting as 263 non-governmental organisations from 51 countries step up their campaign to get Thailand to cancel the proposed Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River's mainstream in northern Laos. In a recent letter sent to the governments of Laos and Thailand, the NGOs urged all parties to cancel plans to build this destructive project, saying public and international credibility are at stake, as well as the ecology of the affected area and the huge number of people who depend on it for their livelihood and food security.

Environmental groups, scientists and others who have been following this project say it has serious flaws and it represents an unacceptable threat to the lives of millions of people in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

"The dam's environmental impact assessment report, released last week, is totally inadequate," Ame Trandem of International Rivers says. The US-based group says the assessment lacks basic yet critical technical information. Other critics say the EIA was written to downplay the dam's impact on fisheries and was deliberately released late (a final decision must be made by April 23) to minimise public opposition.

Unfortunately, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, during a recent dinner with members of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand, was dazed when the issue was put to him. The PM appeared to confuse this dam - which would be built by the Thai firm Ch Karnchang but is supported by Vientiane - with another proposed by the Samak government near Ubon Ratchathani, which his government ditched; with good reason. But the PM's apparent lack of awareness of the project has raised alarm bells, because the Xayaburi Dam looms as an environmental nightmare, partly because it could open the door to a dozen or so dams on the lower Mekong and destroy vast fish resources.

Trandem, of International Rivers, says the report failed to consider transboundary impacts, despite a warning from the Mekong River Commission (MRC) that the environmental and social impacts will be irreversible and will be felt basin-wide should the project go ahead. "Given the quality of the EIA and the anticipated impacts, if this project goes ahead it would be unimaginably irresponsible," she said.

But there are fears, based partly on recent history, that the demands from environmentalists may fall on deaf ears. The Lao government appears determined to press ahead with the project - despite reports it could cause tension with Hanoi because of huge public concern in Vietnam's "rice bowl", the Mekong Delta. There are already reports of earth-moving equipment near the proposed dam site, about 30 kilometres south of Luang Prabang

The sustainability of livelihoods - for the tens of thousands who survive off fishing in Thai and Lao villages south of Chiang Khong, the vast number of Cambodians living around the huge Tonle Sap lake, and Vietnamese rice-growers in the lower reaches of the river - is not at the heart of the decision-making process.

The Xayaburi Dam is a US$3.5 billion project that was first proposed in 2007. While the dam is being pushed by Laos, it is essentially a Thai development. It would be funded by four Thai banks - Kasikorn, Siam Commercial, Bangkok Bank and Krung Thai - and about 95 per cent of the 1,260 megawatts of electricity to be generated would be sent to Egat, Thailand's state energy body. Thai environmental groups are suspicious and question how the PM could not be aware of this project, when he chairs the National Energy Commission, and must surely know Egat signed a memorandum of understanding for a power purchase agreement with Laos in July last year.

Thai villagers living adjacent to the river are fearful. At a public meeting about the dam on March 12, Kamol Konpin, the mayor of Chiang Khan, said: "As local people have already suffered from dams built upstream in China and watched the ecosystem change, we are afraid the Xayaburi Dam will bring more suffering. Our lives and livelihoods depend on the health of the Mekong River."

If the Xayaburi Dam goes ahead, more than 2,100 people will have to be resettled and a further 202,000 living near the dam will be directly affected by impacts on the river's ecology and fisheries. More than 41 fish species, including the Mekong giant catfish, will face the threat of extinction, according to fish experts and environmentalists.

Last October, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA), commissioned by the MRC, recommended a 10-year deferment in decision-making on dams on the Mekong mainstream, including the Xayaburi, due to an incomplete state of knowledge and the huge environmental and social risks. But the attitude of the builders, purchaser and financiers tells a different story. They continue to be indifferent to the recommendations and warnings.

As responsible members of the global community, Thailand, Egat, Ch Karnchang and the four Thai banks have a moral obligation to consider the well-being of people who will be directly affected by the dam's construction. At the very least, there should be a delay in approving dams on the lower Mekong to ensure a comprehensive understanding of all possible negative effects. The risks involved are simply too great.

-- The Nation 2011-03-29

[canuckamuck]

Dam

[Bakseeda]

Again, corruption and greed will win over, we all know and understand that this Dam of Doom should NOT be built, if we note all the negatives against all the positives for the ordinary peoples, there are no positives, the only positives are for the rich and greedy .. all the negatives are left for the ordinary folks... Vietnam needs to put pressure on Laos to stop this Damned Dam now...

[Hawaiian]

Not a good idea. Those criticizing the environmental assessment are probably right about it being inadequate. If the dam is built, Thailand had better be prepared for more than just harsh words from Cambodia and Viet Nam. Wars have been fought over less important things than water. In this case, we are talking about the livelihood of thousands.

[chmiroau]

DAM.

Go back through the news in Queensland Australia.

Many years ago a new dam was proposed to stem the growing need for fresh water for the growing population. This dam was quashed by all the do gooders and it never went ahead.

Some years later another dam was proposed, because the population had now reached a level where Brisbane was running out of water. This was not something that a large, developed, modern city should have ever allowed happen. The new dam was also quashed for very much the same reason/s for the first dam.

Now Brisbane and south east Queensland still have the same problem. Growing population, growing need for water and the same water resources that they had some 30 years ago.

While I agree that people living in the shadow of these projects need protection, relocation and financial compensation for the disruption to their lives, unless we reduce our need for resources such as water, we will need to keep building these things.

ONE COUPLE, ONE CHILD!!!!!

[ding]

chimaroau is right, Malthus was right - popuation needs to reduce not increase. Techological advances allowed population to increase, but at a price - a loan... with interest.

Good, bold editorial. Congrats OP.

Edited March 29, 2011 by ding

[nithisa78]

Not a good idea. Those criticizing the environmental assessment are probably right about it being inadequate. If the dam is built, Thailand had better be prepared for more than just harsh words from Cambodia and Viet Nam. Wars have been fought over less important things than water. In this case, we are talking about the livelihood of thousands.

The livelihood of millions. People that is. Not to mention nature.

[nithisa78]

The livelihood of millions and nature.

[Hawaiian]

DAM.

Go back through the news in Queensland Australia.

Many years ago a new dam was proposed to stem the growing need for fresh water for the growing population. This dam was quashed by all the do gooders and it never went ahead.

Some years later another dam was proposed, because the population had now reached a level where Brisbane was running out of water. This was not something that a large, developed, modern city should have ever allowed happen. The new dam was also quashed for very much the same reason/s for the first dam.

Now Brisbane and south east Queensland still have the same problem. Growing population, growing need for water and the same water resources that they had some 30 years ago.

While I agree that people living in the shadow of these projects need protection, relocation and financial compensation for the disruption to their lives, unless we reduce our need for resources such as water, we will need to keep building these things.

ONE COUPLE, ONE CHILD!!!!!

My understanding is that the main purpose of this project is hydroelectricity. In Australia you are not dealing with foreign governments that have their own national interests. Is Thailand and Laos going to compensate and/or relocate those affected in Cambodia and Viet Nam? Different set of circumstances.

[Hawaiian]

The livelihood of millions and nature.

I wanted to say millions, but did not want to be accused of exaggerating. And yes, nature, too. Please do not accuse me of being a tree hugger, although I love trees.

[mogoso]

chimaroau is right, Malthus was right - popuation needs to reduce not increase. Techological advances allowed population to increase, but at a price - a loan... with interest.

Good, bold editorial. Congrats OP.

How do you propose we reduce population? Individually we decide to eliminate ourselves? Wanna borrow a pistol? Or collectively eliminate those who cannot be reeducated to think like you. Or perhaps you'll donate your family to the Solent Green foundation.

Why don't we do away with watering our yards, washing cars, cleaning off your patio or driveway with a hose or other exterior uses. The hardest for me to give up would be showers, I take at least two a day, but would limit myself to one. There are things as a society we can do to lower useage, but with expanded population comes expanded usage

We as a family have lowered our usage at least 10% a year the past three years, but our water bill only goes up as the county doesn't want to lower their income from water just charge more for selling less

As for population decreases, the Muslims have the largest families, the Catholics tend to have large families you gonna change that.?

How much do western societies donate to eliminate diseases in populations around the world, you just gonna let the people die and keep your cash?

Fresh clean water is something we all need, how to provide societies that water is the hard part and getting harder. There isn't a dam project that'll be ever approved by the eviorowackos, but some do make sense. They provide recreation areas as well as water and can be an economic engine for the businesses that grow around them. While due diligence should be done aforehand, ain't nothing wrong with a dam for the right reasons. Oh and I failed to mention the clean electrical energy created

[MaiChai]

It crosses my mind that dams have the benefit of holding water when there is too much and then releasing it in a controlled manor so that you dont have flooding in the rainy season and more water flowing in the dry season? I can see the negatives of fish not being able to swim upstream, but surely fishery depts in the government can manage this?

[Hawaiian]

It crosses my mind that dams have the benefit of holding water when there is too much and then releasing it in a controlled manor so that you dont have flooding in the rainy season and more water flowing in the dry season? I can see the negatives of fish not being able to swim upstream, but surely fishery depts in the government can manage this?

There already is a natural, albeit not perfect, regulator of the Mekong as it flows through Cambodia. During the rainy season it backs up into Tonle Sap (largest freshwater lake in S.E Asia. Then during the dry season Tonle Sap empties back into the Mekong. I am no expert, but I believe messing with this natural control is going to cause an ecological disaster. China's dam further upstream is already having an impact.

Another question comes to mind. How efficient is Thailand at managing it's domestic water resources? Why is it every year there are complaints of flood damages in the rainy season and insufficient water during the dry season?

[jombom]

The livelihood of millions and nature.

I wanted to say millions, but did not want to be accused of exaggerating. And yes, nature, too. Please do not accuse me of being a tree hugger, although I love trees.

The Vietnamese calculate 20,000,000 people in the Mekong delta region, are dependent on the river's health for their livelihoods. They want the project delayed by 10 years, until more research is undertaken.

[bangon04]

Not a good idea. Those criticizing the environmental assessment are probably right about it being inadequate. If the dam is built, Thailand had better be prepared for more than just harsh words from Cambodia and Viet Nam. Wars have been fought over less important things than water. In this case, we are talking about the livelihood of thousands.

Nobody managed much more than harsh words when China built their dams - for the obvious reason that China has more money and tanks than any o fthe aforementioned. Laos and Vietnam are dependent upon Chinese support in the region. Wars will only be fought if China wants them to be fought.

[bangon04]

Dam builders do not care about ordinary people

so basically they do not give a dam....

[Crushdepth]

It it moves shoot it, if it grows chop it down and if it flows - dammit.

[rikki]

I believe that work on the dam has started, and continues.

Can anyone tell us how its progressing?

Someone else told me that you wouldnt be allowed to ride a bike on a minor road that goes through the area.

I think they want to get it built before anyone complains too much.

chinese plan to build more dams on the irawaddy.

It looks like the poorer people will have no way to carry on with their farms etc,

[geriatrickid]

Odd sentiments, especially;

eviorowackos, but some do make sense. They provide recreation areas as well as water and can be an economic engine for the businesses that grow around them. While due diligence should be done aforehand, ain't nothing wrong with a dam for the right reasons. Oh and I failed to mention the clean electrical energy created

You are wrong and offensive at the same time. As an added bonus, you demonstrate an ignorance of the environmental impact issue.

I am not an enviorwacko, but am an educated health science and business professional. As such, my decision is based upon facts, and in this case, a decision was made to suppress important facts from being discussed. Why are you referring to recreation areas? Do you think the locals are going to take up sailing or perhaps go out on a paddle boat? Most of the impacted population are subsidence fishermen or farmers and any impact upon their livelihoods wipes them out. Just how would the dam be an economic engine for the locals? The high paying jobs are going to go to people from outside the region and the energy will go to Thailand so the energy benefits will not remain in the area. There has not been proper due diligence.

Are you aware that hydroelectrical power pollutes? Yes, it pollutes. Do you understand the importance of silt flows in terms of soil replenishment and a as a means of natural flooding protection? Do you understand that hydroelectric plants are generators of thermal pollution that changes water temperatures which in turn kills off native fish in the area and allows dangerous parasites and diseases to flourish? Do you understand that unless water flows oxygen is depleted and fish die off and there are algae blooms as well as concentrations of pollutants? Reservoirs can end end up being one stinking sewage holding pond. Clean electrical energy is a myth. The best that can be done is to properly construct a plant minimizes the local environment and that takes into account the needs of the local populations. To date most such dams in SE Asia have failed. The same mistakes are repeated over and over.

Nobody managed much more than harsh words when China built their dams - for the obvious reason that China has more money and tanks than any o fthe aforementioned. Laos and Vietnam are dependent upon Chinese support in the region. Wars will only be fought if China wants them to be fought.

What could people do? The dams were in China proper and were entirely Chinese related. This dam involves Thai interference. China was criticized and several of the participating western companies faced sharp reprimands including public boycotts. The implicated Thai banks mightface an international boycott as could Thai exports. Who knows, but it could happen.

Why do you say Vietnam is dependent upon China? It is not. They are rivals. In case you forgot, China tried to invade Vietnam in the 80's and got its arse kicked. Vietnam is the counterweight to China and Thailand had better not piss off Vietnam since the oil field dispute with Cambodian may see Vietnam backing Cambodia more strongly. Maybe Thais in Bangkok and their farang lackies are in awe of the Chinese, but the Vietnamese are not.

Who knows. Maybe Vietnam might send over a few jets to bomb the dam.

Edited March 29, 2011 by geriatrickid

[asiawatcher]

Break out the dam busters for the project - the dam should not be of the size it is - weirs and lesser dams do the same job.

[bangon04]

Nobody managed much more than harsh words when China built their dams - for the obvious reason that China has more money and tanks than any o fthe aforementioned. Laos and Vietnam are dependent upon Chinese support in the region. Wars will only be fought if China wants them to be fought.

What could people do? The dams were in China proper and were entirely Chinese related. This dam involves Thai interference. China was criticized and several of the participating western companies faced sharp reprimands including public boycotts. The implicated Thai banks mightface an international boycott as could Thai exports. Who knows, but it could happen.

Why do you say Vietnam is dependent upon China? It is not. They are rivals. In case you forgot, China tried to invade Vietnam in the 80's and got its arse kicked. Vietnam is the counterweight to China and Thailand had better not piss off Vietnam since the oil field dispute with Cambodian may see Vietnam backing Cambodia more strongly. Maybe Thais in Bangkok and their farang lackies are in awe of the Chinese, but the Vietnamese are not.

Yes the Chinese had every right to build their own dams, and without worrying what the mekong countries thought about it, or international opinion either, fo rthat matter. Criticism of China is water off a duck's back. China learnt from its military colonial escapades in the 1950s and 1970s. These days China fights "wars" of economic attrition and with proxy armies. There are plenty of lackeys in Laos and Vietnam, as well as Cambodia and Thailand.

[LaoPo]

Xayaburi Dam - Laos

This dam is basically a Thai dam on Laos soil, to be constructed by Thai companies, financed with Thai money from four Thai banks whilst the electricity is sold almost exclusively (95% of total output of 1,260 Megawatt) to Thailand, to Egat, Thailand's state energy body.

Of course Laos is pushing for the dam since they not only have the right to do so (like Thailand, Cambodia, China and Vietnam have those same rights) but also need the income of that dam but don't have the money themselves to construct such a huge project.

Also, some members, over and over talk about the Chinese dams, constructed on Chinese soil but what they don't know or learnt (pure ignorance about the Mekong's facts) is that the INFLOW of water into the Mekong is only 16% Chinese water.

The majority of Mekong inflow waters is coming from Laos with 36%, Thailand 18%, Cambodia 18% and Vietnam 11% whilst Myanmar is "responsible" for a mere 2%.

Check your facts.

http://www.mrcmekong...program_ceo.htm

LaoPo

[mogoso]

Odd sentiments, especially;

eviorowackos, but some do make sense. They provide recreation areas as well as water and can be an economic engine for the businesses that grow around them. While due diligence should be done aforehand, ain't nothing wrong with a dam for the right reasons. Oh and I failed to mention the clean electrical energy created

You are wrong and offensive at the same time. As an added bonus, you demonstrate an ignorance of the environmental impact issue.

I am not an enviorwacko, but am an educated health science and business professional. As such, my decision is based upon facts, and in this case, a decision was made to suppress important facts from being discussed. Why are you referring to recreation areas? Do you think the locals are going to take up sailing or perhaps go out on a paddle boat? Most of the impacted population are subsidence fishermen or farmers and any impact upon their livelihoods wipes them out. Just how would the dam be an economic engine for the locals? The high paying jobs are going to go to people from outside the region and the energy will go to Thailand so the energy benefits will not remain in the area. There has not been proper due diligence.

Where to begin, One of the busiest recreation lakes in the US is about 15 miles from where I sit. There is sailing, there are houseboats, there is an old paddle wheeler, lots of small to fairly large power boats, fishing craft and scattered around it shores are recreational parks for family picnics, camp grounds, marinas, a commercial water park, a golf course. and of course houses. It also the source for water for cities from here to the Gulf of mexico three hundred miles away. oh and the dam makes electricity. I've dove it before and haven't seen the silting your ascribing to all dams. Oh the three cities located on it's shores do quite well because of the traffic that filters through with visitors, better financially for the counties as the increased taxes made from homes and businesses are much greater than taxes made from farmlands. Did I mention how good the fishing is, large strippers large and small mouth bass crappies etc There wasn't much fishing on the rivers leading in before, but there sure is now

Are you aware that hydroelectrical power pollutes? Yes, it pollutes. Do you understand the importance of silt flows in terms of soil replenishment and a as a means of natural flooding protection? Do you understand that hydroelectric plants are generators of thermal pollution that changes water temperatures which in turn kills off native fish in the area and allows dangerous parasites and diseases to flourish? Do you understand that unless water flows oxygen is depleted and fish die off and there are algae blooms as well as concentrations of pollutants? Reservoirs can end end up being one stinking sewage holding pond. Clean electrical energy is a myth. The best that can be done is to properly construct a plant minimizes the local environment and that takes into account the needs of the local populations. To date most such dams in SE Asia have failed. The same mistakes are repeated over and over.

Just how does a dam pollute while making electricity? Does it pollute the air? if so what gases does it give off? Nothing is being done to pollute the air. Ok how much is it raising the water temperature while spinning those turbines? friction alone would raise it a some, but is it enough to harm downstream fish population? In my area the downstream fish being caught are trout which require clean water, oops the trout fishing is good and no harm from frictional heat, trout like cool water. There could be some pollution from bearing grease I guess thats not too big an ecological disaster. I don't know where your large scale dams that have water that sits still long enough to produce algae are, but even in severe drought where our lake water dropped 15 feet are more, they still let water flow down stream. Once again tell me how a dam pollutes. Maybe it's dam management that is what causing the problems you cite.

Nobody managed much more than harsh words when China built their dams - for the obvious reason that China has more money and tanks than any o fthe aforementioned. Laos and Vietnam are dependent upon Chinese support in the region. Wars will only be fought if China wants them to be fought.

What could people do? The dams were in China proper and were entirely Chinese related. This dam involves Thai interference. China was criticized and several of the participating western companies faced sharp reprimands including public boycotts. The implicated Thai banks mightface an international boycott as could Thai exports. Who knows, but it could happen.

Why do you say Vietnam is dependent upon China? It is not. They are rivals. In case you forgot, China tried to invade Vietnam in the 80's and got its arse kicked. Vietnam is the counterweight to China and Thailand had better not piss off Vietnam since the oil field dispute with Cambodian may see Vietnam backing Cambodia more strongly. Maybe Thais in Bangkok and their farang lackies are in awe of the Chinese, but the Vietnamese are not.

Who knows. Maybe Vietnam might send over a few jets to bomb the dam.

Starting wars are we now, good luck with that

And if I offended you, so what did it? The fact that someone would refute assertions that you agreed with. it is a forum to opine ones thoughts. I certainly don't agree with a lot of stuff written. Such is life. If your fairly young you were educated under today's propaganda and a creature of your environment and its easy to understand

[LaoPo]

Mekong countries agree to convene additional meeting to seek conclusion on Xayaburi project

March 25, 2011, Preah Sihanouk Province, CAMBODIA—

As the deadline for reaching a decision comes closer, four Lower Mekong Basin Countries have agreed to convene a special session on the prior consultation process for the proposed Xayaburi mainstream hydropower development project, before determining how they should proceed with the proposal.

The countries, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, reached this decision at the 33rd Mekong River Commission (MRC) Joint Committee (JC) Meeting in Preah Sihanouk Province which ends tomorrow. They agreed that they would join with the intent to seek a conclusion at the newly-scheduled meeting on 21 April 2011.

The Xayaburi project, proposed by the Government of Lao PDR, falls under the MRC's Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA) process, which require that the four countries come together with the aim of reaching a conclusion on the proposal within six months of its submission. The deadline for the end of this formal process is 22 April 2011.

<snip>

The Xayaburi hydropower project would be the first such project on the Mekong mainstream downstream of China and would be capable of generating 1260 megawatts of electricity, mainly for export to Thailand.

The Xayaburi dam is located approximately 150 km downstream of Luang Prabang in northern Lao PDR. The dam has an installed capacity of 1,260 megawatts with a dam 810 m long and 32 m high and has a reservoir area of 49 km2 and live storage of 1,300 cubic metres. The primary objective of the Xayaburi dam project is to generate foreign exchange earnings for financing socio-economic development in Lao PDR. The developer is Ch. Karnchang Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand who negotiated a tariff agreement with EGAT in July 2010.

From:

http://www.mrcmekong...ne26-Mar-11.htm

LaoPo

[BKK03]

"If it's not broken don't fix it!."

In this situation: "Don't screw-it-up."

Gets back to individual (got almost all of the money Thais) greed, and total disrespect for the people of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.

[scotbeve]

It crosses my mind that dams have the benefit of holding water when there is too much and then releasing it in a controlled manor so that you dont have flooding in the rainy season and more water flowing in the dry season? I can see the negatives of fish not being able to swim upstream, but surely fishery depts in the government can manage this?

There already is a natural, albeit not perfect, regulator of the Mekong as it flows through Cambodia. During the rainy season it backs up into Tonle Sap (largest freshwater lake in S.E Asia. Then during the dry season Tonle Sap empties back into the Mekong. I am no expert, but I believe messing with this natural control is going to cause an ecological disaster. China's dam further upstream is already having an impact.

Another question comes to mind. How efficient is Thailand at managing it's domestic water resources? Why is it every year there are complaints of flood damages in the rainy season and insufficient water during the dry season?

Funny enough, I had just posted this (below) then saw this thread. Very scary stuff will happen to the Mehkong River!!!