Bid To Halt Controversial Mae Wong Dam Project

[webfact]

Bid to halt dam project

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An environmental group yesterday lodged a petition with the Central Administrative Court asking it to nullify the Cabinet's approval of the controversial Mae Wong Dam.

The 151 complainants, led by Srisuwan Janya, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association, said the dam project was approved without a mandatory public forum. The petition states that the dam would not be worth its estimated Bt13-billion cost and would not prevent flooding in Nakhon Sawan and other areas as cited in its feasibility study.

The petition names four respondents: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the Cabinet, Royal Irrigation Department chief Lertwiroj Kowatthana and Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut.

The petition also accuses Lertwiroj and Theera of inflating the figures on the return on investment in the feasibility study.

The court, through its environmental case department, accepted the petition but has not scheduled a date for the first hearing.

-- The Nation 2012-07-25

[brianP]

Good, all the Dams and hydro-power Dams they systematically built in America have had severe repercussions to the environment and failed to generate enough power to make them feasible. I understand there are viable cheaper alternatives that could serve dual purpose in flood prevention and creating biological diversity too. Thank you for standing up for the environment and people!

[billd766]

But what about the dam on the other side of Mae Wong where I live?

A lot of the local people here want to see that dam_n built.

[OzMick]

Good, all the Dams and hydro-power Dams they systematically built in America have had severe repercussions to the environment and failed to generate enough power to make them feasible. I understand there are viable cheaper alternatives that could serve dual purpose in flood prevention and creating biological diversity too. Thank you for standing up for the environment and people!

"........ failed to generate enough power to make them feasible." Nearly 300TWhr is not "feasible". But they keep building them anyway.

[cowslip]

Most of "locals' who are pro-dam have actually been conned about how beneficial or effective it will be.

This dam has been rejected by Thailand's own ministry for the environment since the early 1980s.

So why now?

Now as a result of the national concerns about flooding the idea has yet again been resurrected.

In the hope that the original objections will have been forgotten....

why does it get support? because there will be some individuals in the corridors of power who will make a personal fortune if this dam is built......largely through graft and corruption it will release a large area of primary , virgin forest of logging - the timber will be worth a fortune - and then there are the lucrative government contracts followed by the land grab for tourism development as the place will no longer be protected as pristine forest.

[billd766]

Most of "locals' who are pro-dam have actually been conned about how beneficial or effective it will be.

This dam has been rejected by Thailand's own ministry for the environment since the early 1980s.

So why now?

Now as a result of the national concerns about flooding the idea has yet again been resurrected.

In the hope that the original objections will have been forgotten....

why does it get support? because there will be some individuals in the corridors of power who will make a personal fortune if this dam is built......largely through graft and corruption it will release a large area of primary , virgin forest of logging - the timber will be worth a fortune - and then there are the lucrative government contracts followed by the land grab for tourism development as the place will no longer be protected as pristine forest.

Do you live in that area or have been to the area?

Do you realise that it gets flooded to some extent most years and people are getting fed up with replacing stuff year after year, mostly at their own expense.

Do you know how big the area is that the government wants and how big the national park actually is?

Few of the people who are protesting even live in the area and certainly none of the tree huggers and conservationists do. The people who actually do live there are the ones who should be heard and listened to the most.

Where does Srisuwan Janya, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association live and what does he actually do?

[cowslip]

Most of "locals' who are pro-dam have actually been conned about how beneficial or effective it will be.

This dam has been rejected by Thailand's own ministry for the environment since the early 1980s.

So why now?

Now as a result of the national concerns about flooding the idea has yet again been resurrected.

In the hope that the original objections will have been forgotten....

why does it get support? because there will be some individuals in the corridors of power who will make a personal fortune if this dam is built......largely through graft and corruption it will release a large area of primary , virgin forest of logging - the timber will be worth a fortune - and then there are the lucrative government contracts followed by the land grab for tourism development as the place will no longer be protected as pristine forest.

Do you live in that area or have been to the area?

Do you realise that it gets flooded to some extent most years and people are getting fed up with replacing stuff year after year, mostly at their own expense.

Do you know how big the area is that the government wants and how big the national park actually is?

Few of the people who are protesting even live in the area and certainly none of the tree huggers and conservationists do. The people who actually do live there are the ones who should be heard and listened to the most.

Where does Srisuwan Janya, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association live and what does he actually do?

yes.

unlike yourself I'm aware of the history and ecology of the region and more importantly how it fits into the bigger picture. I'm sure if you take a less parochial approach you'll eat your words.

Edited September 12, 2012 by cowslip

[cowslip]

unfortunately flooding is an essential part of keeping the area fertile - the waters bring alluvial soils that are essential to agriculture - if you stop flooding you'll eventually drastically reduce or even bring an end to agriculture in the area.

...assuming that is you believe the spiel that the dam will "eliminate" flooding. THis is not it's main purpose - it is to generate some electricity and supply industry with water.

If you want to see how effective dams are against flooding - check out Brisbane.

Edited September 12, 2012 by cowslip

[billd766]

You and I will never agree on this subject. I do live here and yes I am parochial.

[TwoDogz]

Most of "locals' who are pro-dam have actually been conned about how beneficial or effective it will be.

This dam has been rejected by Thailand's own ministry for the environment since the early 1980s.

So why now?

Now as a result of the national concerns about flooding the idea has yet again been resurrected.

In the hope that the original objections will have been forgotten....

why does it get support? because there will be some individuals in the corridors of power who will make a personal fortune if this dam is built......largely through graft and corruption it will release a large area of primary , virgin forest of logging - the timber will be worth a fortune - and then there are the lucrative government contracts followed by the land grab for tourism development as the place will no longer be protected as pristine forest.

Do you live in that area or have been to the area?

Do you realise that it gets flooded to some extent most years and people are getting fed up with replacing stuff year after year, mostly at their own expense.

Do you know how big the area is that the government wants and how big the national park actually is?

Few of the people who are protesting even live in the area and certainly none of the tree huggers and conservationists do. The people who actually do live there are the ones who should be heard and listened to the most.

Where does Srisuwan Janya, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association live and what does he actually do?

If you don't like it move.

Most people learn from the past...why are these people so slow to learn.

I hope the dam is not built, greedy people at the front of the que please.

[cowslip]

Most of "locals' who are pro-dam have actually been conned about how beneficial or effective it will be.

This dam has been rejected by Thailand's own ministry for the environment since the early 1980s.

So why now?

Now as a result of the national concerns about flooding the idea has yet again been resurrected.

In the hope that the original objections will have been forgotten....

why does it get support? because there will be some individuals in the corridors of power who will make a personal fortune if this dam is built......largely through graft and corruption it will release a large area of primary , virgin forest of logging - the timber will be worth a fortune - and then there are the lucrative government contracts followed by the land grab for tourism development as the place will no longer be protected as pristine forest.

Do you live in that area or have been to the area?

Do you realise that it gets flooded to some extent most years and people are getting fed up with replacing stuff year after year, mostly at their own expense.

Do you know how big the area is that the government wants and how big the national park actually is?

Few of the people who are protesting even live in the area and certainly none of the tree huggers and conservationists do. The people who actually do live there are the ones who should be heard and listened to the most.

Where does Srisuwan Janya, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association live and what does he actually do?

If you don't like it move.

Most people learn from the past...why are these people so slow to learn.

I hope the dam is not built, greedy people at the front of the que please.

It might help if some of the posters asked themselves

why it floods and why people live there despite this.

Edited September 13, 2012 by cowslip

[cowslip]

Mae Wong Dam -

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/584145-the-mae-wong-dam-government-ignores-its-own-words-at-tiger-conferences/