[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
dam-l LS: Suggest to demolish Rasi rejected
http://www.bangkokpost.net/today/080600_News12.html
June 8, 2000
RASI SALAI
Suggestion to demolish dam rejected
Compensation bill will triple the cost
Ploenpote Atthakor
The science, technology and environment minister yesterday rejected his
deputy's suggestion that the Rasi Salai dam be demolished even though the
compensation bill will be more than double the construction cost.
Arthit Urairat said the dam across the Moon river had been built and the
country should make full use of it.
Mr Arthit made his position clear after Pornthep Techapaiboon said the
compensation bill for the 900-million-baht dam could reach two billion baht.
The compensation cost had soared, he said, because the government thought
it did not have to pay villagers since the area submerged was classified as
public land.
However, the Chavalit Yongchaiyudh administration agreed to pay in a
cabinet resolution of Feb 18, 1997. Mr Pornthep felt the government should
have retreated from the project when the extent of compensation became clear.
Mr Arthit said he would rather deal with a comprehensive compensation
scheme, incorporating all parties concerned.
The dam in Si Sa Ket has been under siege by protesters who want the gates
opened to allow the riverine ecology to recover. They say the dam, which
flooded the pa bung pa tam forest area, has caused widespread salinity, a
claim the authorities deny.
Mr Arthit said he would call for a meeting between the 17,000 villagers,
who are in eight groups, and the authorities to work out who was affected
and to what extent. "A rule will be set in this case," he said. "We can no
longer deal with one group at a time or the process will never end."Mr
Artht said the Energy Development and Promotion Department, which developed
the dam, has been advised to engage in a more aggressive public relations
campaign to promote better understanding of the dam's benefits.
The case should not lead to a review of the Khong-Chi-Moon water diversion
mega-project. "There are only two projects that have had trouble, Rasi
Salai and Hua Na."Mr Pornthep's suggestion was welcomed by Prof Prakob
Wirojanagud, dean of engineering at Ubon Ratchathani University.
Apart from the compensation bill, he said, demolition would enable
ecological recovery.
However, Mr Prakob said the government was unlikely to demolish the dam for
fear of setting a precedent.
Opening the dam's gates should be more acceptable, said Mr Prakob, a member
of the committee seeking to resolve the Pak Moon dam protest.
"Pak Moon, despite the controversy, is more useful," he said.
"Rasi Salai is useless."Mr Prakob urged the government to admit the dam
caused salinity and "stop lying to the public".
Itthi Bijayendrayodhin, chief of the energy development department, did not
rule opening the dam gates in case the compensation bill is too huge.
"It's up to the government," he said.
Prosecutors have postponed until Aug 6 a decision on whether to indict
Adisorn Piangket, a former deputy science minister, who had been charged
with embezzling compensation money intended for Rasi Salai villagers.
© Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2000
Last Modified: Thu, Jun 8, 2000
For comments and letters to the editor see : notes
Comments to: Webmaster
Advertising enquiries to Internet Marketing
ÿ