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dam-l LS: Pak Mun - Committee makes last-ditch effort to solve crisis
Last-ditch attempt to solve crisis
Meeting with Banyat to get spillways open
Ploenpote Atthakor, Bangkok Post, June 19, 2000
A committee to solve problems associated with the Pak Moon Dam is seeking a
meeting with Interior Minister Banyat Bantadtan today to formally submit a
resolution on the controversial dam, in a last-ditch effort to press for
the opening of the dam's spillways until the end of August.
The committee, chaired by respected scholar Banthorn On-dam, concluded in
its findings last week that opening the dam's sluice gates would help the
Moon river's ecology, seriously damaged by the dam construction, to return
to its original state.
The committee, which was appointed by the interior minister, also found
that opening the dam's floodgates would not have an adverse impact on
fisheries in the province as well as electricity generation in the
Northeast as being claimed by the Electricity Generating Authority of
Thailand (Egat), the dam builder.
However, Mr Banyat has been very reluctant to follow the committee's
advice, opting instead for the establishment of another committee to
conduct a study on the opening of spillways. The move has certainly puzzled
Mr Banthorn's team.
A committee member said: "We have gone beyond the point whether the dam
should be opened. It seems the government just wants to buy time," he said
on condition of anonymity.
He said his committee will also forward the rationale behind the resolution
to Mr Banyat for consideration. "We want to reiterate our conclusion," he
said. In addition, he said it is viewed that the new committee should be
chaired by a non-partisan scholar, and not a government official,
especially the provincial governor, or it will be rejected by dam
opponents. The government has made it clear it wants the governor to lead
the new committee.
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