Govt. expedites diversion of water from Mekong

BANGKOK, 30 March 2016 (NNT) - The Royal Irrigation Department has confirmed that the public sector is trying to increase water volumes in the country especially by diverting water from the Mekong river to drought-hit areas.

Expert from the Royal Irrigation Department Sanya Saengphumphong said the department was conducting a study on how to divert water from the Mekong for use and building temporary pumping stations with the capacity of 40 million cubic meters. The pumping stations are expected to benefit more than 10,000 Rai of drought-hit areas. The pumping stations will be upgraded into permanent ones with the capacity of 100 million cubic meters in 2017.

The department also had a plan to divert water from the Moei and Salween rivers in Myanmar into the Bhumibol dam in Thailand, said the expert.

Mr. Sanya however expressed concerns over the nation’s water situation although the department’s latest water management plan would ensure sufficient water until July this year. The department therefore had to continue monitoring water use especially by waterside communities, said Mr. Sanya.


-- NNT 2016-03-30

Wow just wait until Laos or another country does it upstream. They have no qualms about killing the river they profess to love. What a sad report.

Thailand is always slow on the up take. This should of have been done 20 to 40 years ago.

A very special river on parr with the amazon

....which one is it then....