NGO coalition opposes new Laos dam

The River Coalition of Cambodia appealed to the government of Cambodia yesterday to intervene in plans by Laos to construct a third controversial dam along the Mekong. At a press conference in Phnom Penh, the national network of environmental NGOs urged the government to raise their concerns of ill affects to communities living downstream from the proposed Pak Beng dam, in Oudomxay province, northern Laos.

The proposed Pak Beng Hydropower Dam would be the third dam constructed on the Mekong river in Laos, following the controversial Xayaburi and Don Sahong dams, to which the coalition is also opposed. “We did a lot activity against building the Xayaburi and Don Sahong dams,” said Tek Vanara, executive director of the NGO Forum on Cambodia.

“Now Laos have announced they’re building a third project. We stand against this project because it will impact the Mekong river in Cambodia.” Mr Vanara said the dam would seriously affect fishing communities who live downstream in Stung Treng province by threatening biodiversity and fisheries in the lower Mekong, the source of food security for millions of Cambodians.

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