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DAM-L LS: Experts call for Pak Mun gates to stay open (fwd)

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Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 10:26:01 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: LS: Experts call for Pak Mun gates to stay open
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PAK MOON DAM

Experts call for gates to stay open
More time needed for researchers to conduct studies

Ploenpote Atthakor , Bangkok Post 26 Aug 2001

The Pak Moon dam's sluice gates should remain open after the four-month 
trial period ends in October, experts and environmentalists said yesterday.

More time was needed for researchers to look into the impact on the river, 
comparing outcomes when the gates were closed and opened.

The dam's gates were opened on June 14, one month after the date set by 
cabinet to allow fish in the Mekong river to migrate and spawn upstream.

Two research works were initiated to study the result, one by Ubon 
Ratchathani University and the other by the National Economic and Social 
Development Board.

Suphavit Piamphongsant, chief inspector-general of the Science, Technology 
and Environment Ministry, said the studies would not be completed unless 
the grace period was extended.

``The researcher needs at least one year to study the full cycle of the 
river,'' Mr Suphavit told a seminar on dams and development at 
Chulalongkorn University.

Comprehensive studies were necessary to give a clear answer about any 
damage the dam caused to the river and people's livelihoods.

Most dam builders, including those involved in the Pak Moon dam, tended to 
deliberately overestimate benefits while underestimating the environmental 
and social impact.

``That is the reason why many, if not all, projects were approved.

``Had the impact been considered genuinely, a number of large-scale 
projects would have been found to be not feasible,'' he said.

Ammar Siamwalla, an academic, said the Pak Moon dam was not economically 
viable and should never have been built.

The case reflected a flaw in the state decision-making process.

The project sailed through the Electricity Generating Authority of 
Thailand, the development board, and the World Bank without question as to 
its viability.

``The Pak Moon dam is a lesson for society. It helped us realise the 
failure of project evaluation in Thailand,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Wanida Tantiwitthayapitak, adviser to the Assembly of the Poor, 
said she was concerned about Egat officers attempting to divide Pak Moon 
villagers.

``Money was dumped into the area to buy local leaders, especially those in 
Khong Chiam district.

``This was aimed at pushing for the dam's operation.''

This was the same group of Egat-backed people who blocked the opening of 
the dam gates.

  


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