Bamgkok Post
Monday 9 June 2003

MEKONG RIVER PROJECT
Experts from four nations to review rapids blasting plan
Discussions to be held next month

A team of experts from four nations is likely to review the environmental
impact study for the Chinese-initiated plan to blast rapids in the Mekong
river.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has suggested the review, a senior Water
Resources Department official said.

Beijing made the original study of its project to make the river navigable
downstream for large cargo barges from its southern province of Yunnan.

``A dialogue meeting of the MRC will be held next month. Burma and China
will be invited to attend and the project to blast the rapids will probably
be a topic of discussion,'' said Nirat Phuriphanphinyo, of the Bureau of
International Cooperation.

Concerns were raised about the quality of the Chinese study because it took
only six months to finish, a short time considering the magnitude of the
project, he said at a discussion on the development of the Mekong organised
by the Thai Society of Environment Journalists.

Initiated by China in 1992, the project aims to improve international trade
links. China, Burma, Laos and Thailand agreed in June 2001 to widen the
navigation channel of the 5,594-kilometre river.

Beijing provided 220 million baht for the work and a Chinese company was
appointed to do the work for Laos, Burma and Thailand.

Eleven rapids would be cleared in the first phase - nine in Laos, one near
the Sino-Burmese border, and another in Thailand, known as Khon Phi Luang,
between Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong districts in Chiang Rai.

Once this was done, vessels of up to 100-tonnes displacement would be able
to travel between southern China and Luang Prabang in Laos. Currently boats
of only 60-tonnes displacement are able to make the trip between Yunnan and
Chiang Rai.

Khon Phi Luang is the only rapid where blasting has yet to begin. Cabinet
in April put the blasting on hold to avoid demarcation problems along the
Thai-Lao border.

Mr Nirat said the review team would look at the Chinese study to see what
extra work needed to be done.[End]

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