Floodgates reopen in dam debate
YINGLUCK VISITS DELUGED AREAS WHILE CONSIDERING PROS
SUKHOTHAI : Debate has renewed over the construction of Kaeng Sua Ten Dam in Phrae after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said her government would review the controversial project as a measure to ease flooding in the lower North.
The premier said the Kaeng Sua Ten issue was sensitive because of possible negative impacts on the ecosystem and the livelihoods of people living nearby.
The government's decision about the dam would be based on thoroughly researched information and studies.
"[Making a decision on the dam construction] is a challenge for me," said Ms Yingluck.
"I need to have correct information before making any decision. Participation from all stakeholders is needed."
A group of Sukhothai villagers yesterday submitted a petition to Ms Yingluck, asking her government to build the Kaeng Sua Ten Dam on the Yom River in Phrae, as they believe it would safeguard downstream provinces.
Kaeng Sua Ten is one of five dams put on hold by the Chuan Leekpai government in 1997 following protests by the grassroots group, the Assembly of the Poor, and residents.
Opponents say the 11 billion baht dam will destroy about 60,000 rai of jungle, including 24,000 rai of the country's most pristine teak forest.
Some studies argue the dam is not the right solution to floods or droughts, as its adherents claim.
"[The dam] is a very important issue for the government, but we have yet to set a deadline on when the matter will be finalised," Ms Yingluck said.
The government would also revise the management plans of 25 river basins and improve the irrigation system to better deal with water management in the country, she said.
On Friday, the Northern Rivers Network issued an open letter to the prime minister, calling on her to abolish the plan to construct the dam as it is not the solution to flooding in the lower North.
The network said more effective measures would be building small-scale reservoirs and check dams on the Yom River and its 77 tributaries; dredging the Yom to increase water storage capacity; removing roads that obstruct water flows; and preserving the forest so it could absorb water.
They also produced a list of seven reasons why the Yingluck government should scrap the dam project.
These include the fact that the site sits on an active faultline; research by the Thailand Development and Research Institute that concludes the dam is not economically viable; and a Thailand Research Fund study that shows how the dam will damage the Mae Yom National Park.
"Mega dams that have been built in Thailand over the past 40 years have failed to prevent floods, which have become more frequent and severe every year," said the network. "Claims that a large-scale dam is a cure-all solution for floods and droughts are not true."
Sukhothai governor Chakarin Plienwong said the province has improved its natural water storage area with a capacity to hold 32 million cubic metres. Canals have also been created to divert flood water away from the city centre.
"However, the dam is needed as a long-term prevention measure," he said.
Sukhothai is one of the 23 provinces hit by floods triggered by the Nock-Ten tropical storm and monsoons since early this month.
Sukhothai has been flooded four times this year.
The latest disaster affected about 90,000 people in nine districts, claimed four lives and damaged more than 300,000 rai of rice paddy.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that nine provinces remained flooded as of yesterday with the total death toll climbing to 24.
One other person is reported missing in Mae Hong Son.
The nine affected provinces are Sukhothai, Phrae, Uttaradit, Pichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Mukdahan and Ubon Ratchathani.
Prime Minister Yingluck said the government would set up a special committee to supervise the flood rehabilitation programme. The committee will help speed up flood compensation hand-outs and look into the possibility of increasing compensation for farmers.
Under the current regulation, compensation for rice paddy damaged by floods is set at 604 baht per rai.
The premier was accompanied by Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri, Transport Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat, Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut.
Hundreds of people showed up to greet her as she waded through knee-deep water and took flat-bottomed boats to flood-affected spots to distribute essential supplies kits to the villagers.
After visiting Sukhothai, Ms Yingluck boarded a helicopter to Phrae.
She will visit Ubon Ratchathani on the second leg of her flood trip today.
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