Most dams in are 'a long way off': Thai govt's water-management scheme

[webfact]

Most dams are 'a long way off'
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Only five dam projects under the government's ambitious water-management scheme, are even close to being ready for construction, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has announced.

Despite a court order by the Central Administrative Court last week for the RID to conduct public hearings and prepare EIA reports on the 18 dams listed under the water-management scheme, only 5 of the 18 dams are close to being ready for contractors to move in.

The majority of dam projects under the scheme do not follow the "blueprint" for the government's flood-management irrigation plans, Somkiat Prajamwong, director of RID's Project Management Office, told The Nation in an exclusive interview.

The five dam projects are the Bt470-million Lampang Mae On reservoir, which can retain 19 million cubic metres of water; the Bt445-million Huay Tha Phon reservoir in Phetchabun, with a capacity of 12.82 million cubic metres; Uttaradit's Bt575-million Huay Phang-Nga reservoir, with a capacity of 11.33 million cubic metres; the Bt13-billion Mea Wong dam in Nakhonsawan with 258 million cubic metres; and the Bt5.5-billion Wang Chom Phu dam in Pitsanulok, with 87 million cubic metres.

However, an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) still needed to be carried out on Mae On, Huay Tha Phon, and Huay Phang-Nga dams, Somkiat said. No IEE was needed for Huay Phang-Nga reservoir, as it was only a small-scale dam, he added.

For the remaining two dams - Mae Wong and Wang Chum Phu - both were still waiting for the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) to complete its conclusions on the findings assessing the two dams' environmental impact.

" Plans to construct Mae Wong and Wang Chum Phu dams are now also facing strong resistance from local communities so we need to review the environmental impact of these projects again," said Somkiat said.

He added that he was concerned about the construction of Mae Wong and the Lower and Upper Yom dams as strong resistance meant they may not be completed within the 5-year deadline, as stipulated by the government's mega water-management scheme.

When asked about progress on the study of the Lower and Upper Yom dams, Somkiat said his agency was still unsure whether it could proceed, as Panya Consultants - the company hired to assess the impact of the two dams - had been barred by villagers from returning to the area. He said one option being considered was to let the contractor carry out its own environmental impact assessment (EIA).

Another problems was that there were no "blueprints" under the government's ambitious mega water-management scheme for distributing water through canals to irrigate farmland in areas surround the dams.

"The government's terms of reference for the water-management scheme have only required the contractor to build the dam - not the irrigation system. Currently, there is no system of irrigation planned that would enable the RID to set up an effective water- and flood-management system," Somkiat said.


-- The Nation 2013-07-01

[ChrisY1]

Clever planning again.....they just don't have a clue!!

[OzMick]

As the main reason for building these dams is flood mitigation, surely the secondary functions could be considered later.

[finnomick]

Surely the whole idea of building a dam is to put it in the right place.......not a long way off

[Bluespunk]

"about progress on the study of the Lower and Upper Yom dams, Somkiat said his agency was still unsure whether it could proceed, as Panya Consultants - the company hired to assess the impact of the two dams - had been barred by villagers from returning to the area. He said one option being considered was to let the contractor carry out its own environmental impact assessment (EIA)."

I think I can guess the all too positive outcome of that EIA.

Edited July 1, 2013 by Bluespunk

[bangarang]

Would be nice to figure out the flooding issues in Patong every heavy rainfall. Happens every year but seems like they are clueless.

[Bluespunk]

Would be nice to figure out the flooding issues in Patong every heavy rainfall. Happens every year but seems like they are clueless.

Your final three words may be the answer you seek.

[slapout]

Good plan, dam up a causeway/river which is prone is annual flooding, do not include alternate waterways to utilize/divert annual runoff. So the government water management plan, "continue what has worked in the past"

block the natural flow or runoff, release same when dam's capacity reaches critial point/failure, thus we flood the normal flood plan but we do it quickly, thus ignoring natural runoff capability.

This sounds/looks like the ongoing rice scam logic, but the transport facilities/fee for the over priced water was overlooked by the skimming committee/ PM's cabinet

[gabruce]

As the main reason for building these dams is flood mitigation, surely the secondary functions could be considered later.

Are you truly serious about this statement? Apologies in advance if you merely forgot the smiley.

[Pib]

The dams are "so far off" that some will never get built because residents in the area will protest and prevent construction, the money will just kinda disappear from the govt budget, or maybe worst yet, corrupt officials will slow leak the dam construction in order to milk more money and for a longer time from this govt cash cow program.

Don't get me wrong, most of the dams are probably needed but govt bureaucracy, the govt trying to bypass laws like public hearings/environment impact statements will cause delays when the courts delays/stops the construction because of law avoidance, and corruption will indeed make the beginning and/or completion of new dams a long way off. Probably best to keep a line on where you can buy sandbags to help protect your property from flooding.

[OzMick]

As the main reason for building these dams is flood mitigation, surely the secondary functions could be considered later.

Are you truly serious about this statement? Apologies in advance if you merely forgot the smiley.

Absolutely. The proposed dams are for flood mitigation, at least as their stated primary purpose. Fittings for possible hydro-power and irrigation outlets should be added, but there is no need to plan in advance every possible irrigation channel, or to have them ready as soon as it is completed.

After the dam is built, relative importance of its functions will decide operating procedure.

[Robby nz]

I am wondering how a flood will impact on the construction of these dams. If nothing else it would certainly hold up work.

The way the global weather patterns are at present with most of the heavy rain in the south of Thailand there is a good chance of the main rains moving north in the next year or two.

Should this happen there will most likely be a flood in the next couple of years.

This is borne out by the historical records of high river levels of the CP river from 2538 (1996) of river levels over 12 M, see photo, some of the arrows have worn off but the years still tell the story.

You will also see by this that the floods have been getting closer together from 7 years between 2538 and 2545 to only 1 year between 2553 and 2554.

The last two were an exception but the overall picture does show that there is a good chance of another soon.

Whether this is due to intensity of rains or building dams and such on the river I wouldn't know.

[pb1936]

Is this turning out like the rice fiasco ?

[billd766]

Which Mae Wong dam?

The eastern one down near Khao Shan Kan and Mae Wong village or the western one near Klong Lan Pattana?

I live close to the eastern one and I have seen the plans for that dam.

It wont affect the house but the other piece of my wife's land with the shop is due to be inundated.

[rosst]

As long as they decide to use them for flood mittigation rather than Queensland did and fill them up for water supply and then have no where to put the flood water so OH, let some go now, do not worry about downstream, they will be fine???

Sounds like a plan!!

[anotheruser]

Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't. Somebody has to make the sacrifice either way. As long as the people don't come to inspect my RR for tax.

[hellodolly]

As the main reason for building these dams is flood mitigation, surely the secondary functions could be considered later.

Actually the mitigation of flood waters is just a cover to create a trough big enough to accommodate every one at the top.

Any dam built should involve more than just holding water back. It should fit in with the environment with out destroying it. the people in the area should also be considered. And what is the point in just having a lot of water sitting there in a drought. Irrigation should also be a part of it.

As for the Mae Wong and the Lower and Upper Yom dam

"He added that he was concerned about the construction of Mae Wong and the Lower and Upper Yom dams as strong resistance meant they may not be completed within the 5-year deadline, as stipulated by the government's mega water-management scheme."

What he did not mention was that there was another study out to build a lot of little dams thus creating a lot less damage to the environment.

Lets face it this government dosen't give a damn what it does to the rest of Thailand just as long as Bangkok dosen't get flooded. Also they have to have their 30%

[OzMick]

As the main reason for building these dams is flood mitigation, surely the secondary functions could be considered later.

Actually the mitigation of flood waters is just a cover to create a trough big enough to accommodate every one at the top.

Any dam built should involve more than just holding water back. It should fit in with the environment with out destroying it. the people in the area should also be considered. And what is the point in just having a lot of water sitting there in a drought. Irrigation should also be a part of it.

As for the Mae Wong and the Lower and Upper Yom dam

"He added that he was concerned about the construction of Mae Wong and the Lower and Upper Yom dams as strong resistance meant they may not be completed within the 5-year deadline, as stipulated by the government's mega water-management scheme."

What he did not mention was that there was another study out to build a lot of little dams thus creating a lot less damage to the environment.

Lets face it this government dosen't give a dam_n what it does to the rest of Thailand just as long as Bangkok dosen't get flooded. Also they have to have their 30%

There has been quite a few mention of the "lot of little dams" study. What hasn't been mentioned is whether it has any credibility, how much floodwater it would retain, or the cost.

It's easy to make proposals - anything is possible when you don't know what you are talking about.