Mekong projects must take impact on environment into account

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Mekong projects must take impact on environment into account
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha may have been wrong when he said his government would clear the waterway for navigation in the Mekong River for the benefit of Thailand, suggesting that nobody should oppose this project.

 

The Mekong runs through six countries in the region and it is not right that one or two be allowed to make a short-sighted decision on what to do with the river. It still remains unclear about who will really benefit from what Prayut is talking about. 

 

China uses the Mekong more than other countries in the basin, and the river also runs through several parts of Laos. Therefore, it is not really up to Thailand to make decisions about the river. 

 

It is widely known that China opened the waterway in the Mekong River to countries downstream more than two decades ago. Thailand’s Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong ports have been kept busy with vessels from China. Thailand, of course, does ship to China via the Mekong, but China uses the waterway more. China has been clearing the Golden Triangle stretch for more than 10 years, making navigation safe and convenient from Simao port in Yunnan province to Thailand. Vessels below 50 tonnes can now travel down the Mekong without any hindrance as all rocks and islands in the river have been moved. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30305910

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-08

[leeneeds]

It all sounds like China will put more pressure on, to remove the sediment and rocky obstacles, 

combined with the future building of more hydro schemes along the river, will continue to erode 

the natural flow, and concequece there after on all manner of diversity.

When do we reach the ENOUGH point? 

 

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, leeneeds said:

It all sounds like China will put more pressure on, to remove the sediment and rocky obstacles, 

combined with the future building of more hydro schemes along the river, will continue to erode 

the natural flow, and concequece there after on all manner of diversity.

When do we reach the ENOUGH point? 

 

Only mother nature knows as mankind only knows how to change and alter and blow things up. Looking at the picture it looks like a bunch of  hippos bathing but of course Thailand has none of these magnificent animals.