Bangkok Post March 5, 2003

MEKONG PROJECT

Changes seen in river flow as China blasts shipping channel
Riverside villagers seriously affected
Kultida Samabuddhi

The blasting of rapids in the upper Mekong river by the Chinese government is causing severe changes to the river flow in Thailand, environmentalists said yesterday.

The clearing is being done under a project to expand and deepen the Mekong river channel for commercial shipping.

Chainarong Sretchua, director of the Chiang Mai-based Southeast Asia Rivers Networks (Searin), said local fishermen and collectors of the famous Mekong waterweed, or kai, in Chiang Rai's Chiang Saen district, had been seriously affected since Beijing started blasting shoals and submerged rocks last December.

According to the Water Transportation Department, the river was at the mercy of China, which had cut the river flow every three days by closing their dams to work on the project. After the three-day closure, they opened the gates for one day to let the water flow downstream. Channel blasting in China's section of the river began on Dec 15 and was to continue until April 15.

``The river level has changed by 50 to 100 cm during the day, which is very unnatural. Sediment has also increased sharply, muddying the river all the more.

``These changes have also led to the reduction in the fish population and waterweed, the main diet of Thai and Lao people living along the river.''

Locals had complained the unusually strong river currents were causing problems for boats.

Initiated by China in 1992, the project aims to improve international trade links by enabling river passage for larger cargo ships. China, Burma, Laos and Thailand signed an agreement in June 2001 to widen the navigation channel of the 5,594-kilometre river.

The Chinese government donated 220 million baht for the work and a Chinese-owned company was appointed to do the work for Laos, Burma, and Thailand.

Under the scheme, around 11 rapids would be cleared, nine in Laos, one near the Sino-Burmese border, and another in Thailand, known as Khon Pee Luang, between Chiang Saen and Chiag Khong districts.

The rapids were due to be completely cleared by Dec 15, he said. However, a strong protest by riverside villagers and environmental groups, and conflicts over the Thai-Lao borderline, would not allow Beijing to carry on with the job for too long. ``I believe that China will not be allowed to clear Khon Pee Luang in December. This means ships over 150 tonnes would only be able to travel up to Chiang Saen,'' he said.

Yan Tingai, the Chinese ambassador to Thailand, yesterday defended the project, saying that it was too small to cause any severe environmental damage.

Mr Yan claimed that none of the rapids in Thailand would be affected.

``Thailand should not worry too much,'' he said.

Samarn Chimviset, of the Water Transportation Department's office of survey and engineering, said by controlling the river flow the Chinese could also help boost the shipping business in the dry season.

But he admitted that the blasting operation would hurt the river's ecology to some extent.

He said the Khon Pee Luang rapids would not be cleared until Thailand and Laos reached an agreement on their border.

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Jim Enright
Southeast Asia Coordinator
Mangrove Action Project (MAP)
Yaotak Building B-206
31 Vienkapang Road
Amphur Muang, Trang 92000
T H A I L A N D

Tel: ++ 66-75-226-258
Tel. local: 075-226-258
E-mail: <mapasia@loxinfo.co.th>
http://www.earthisland.org/map/map.html