Mekong dams’ annual impact put at $450M

[geovalin]

Igor Kossov

A 30-month study by Vietnamese researchers on the impact of 11 proposed hydroelectric dams in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) has found that the economic damage to Cambodia alone will be worth some $450 million per year.

While experts have warned about the potential dangers of dams for years, the 800-page study, parts of which were released by the Mekong River Commission (MRC) yesterday, quantifies the potential damage to for the first time.

“Hydropower development in the LMB would cause long-lasting damage to the floodplains and aquatic environment, resulting in significant reduction in the socioeconomic status of millions of residents,” the researchers say in the study’s executive summary.

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/mekong-dams-annual-impact-put-450m

[laolover88]

I should think $450 million is a fraction of what the real cost could be. Have not read the document, but; how did they arrive at that figure?

"significant reduction in the socioeconomic status of millions of residents" ie. They will starve.