Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




WATER WORLD
Xayaburi Dam construction to continue?
by Staff Writers
Bangkok (UPI) Apr 25, 2012


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Protesters called for a halt to construction on the proposed $3.8 billion Xayaburi dam project on the Lower Mekong River in northern Laos.

Converging on the headquarters of Thai construction company Ch. Karnchang's annual shareholders meeting Tuesday in Bangkok, civil society groups and community representatives from villages along the Mekong said the company is defying a Mekong River Commission's ruling made last December.

MRC -- comprised of Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia -- is the core body through which the four countries negotiate and discuss trans-boundary effects of management of their shared river. The December ruling called for the Xayaburi project to be delayed until a comprehensive environmental impact study can more properly identify potential risks.

At issue with the protesters is Ch. Karnchang's announcement last week to the Thai Stock Exchange that it had signed a $711 million construction contract with the Xayaburi Power Co. for the 1,260-megawatt hydro project, which is opposed by environmentalists and villagers.

The Bangkok Post reports that 3,000 residents at the construction site have already been relocated.

Plew Trivisvavet, chief executive officer of Ch. Karnchang, speaking at the shareholder's meeting, said the Xayaburi dam project is vital for the future success of the company, The Nation newspaper reports. He said he expects the company will earn a return of 10 percent on its investment in the project.

The longest river in Southeast Asia, the Mekong stretches 3,000 miles to the South China Sea and is home to more than 700 species of freshwater fish, including the endangered Mekong catfish. The Lower Mekong supports nearly 60 million people who depend on it for their livelihood, says the World Wildlife Fund.

Laos should look beyond the short-term benefits of the dam, says International Rivers, a California-based water rights group.

"This project may generate some money for the government but in the long-term the government should look at possible serious impacts to the Mekong River and the whole region," Pianporn Deetes, a coordinator for the organization, told Radio Free Asia.

"In addition, the dam will create a conflict in the region. The government should think about the people and their children, who will have to move to new villages where not much land will be available for them to cultivate."

Following Ch. Karnchang's announcement last week, Cambodia threatened to take Laos to court if it allows the company to continue with construction of the Xayaburi without regional consensus.

"There must be a discussion before Laos can proceed with the construction. If Laos has decided unilaterally, then according to law, we can file a complaint to an international court," said Sin Niny, permanent vice chairman of Cambodia's National Mekong Committee.

.


Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








WATER WORLD
Planned dams in Amazon may have largely negative ecosystem impact
London, UK (SPX) Apr 24, 2012
The Andean Amazon is becoming a major frontier for new hydroelectric dams, but an analysis of the potential impacts of these planned projects suggests that there may be serious ecological concerns to take into account. The full report is published in the open access journal PloS ONE. The study, led by Matt Finer of the Center for Intenrational Environmental Law in Washington, D.C., analyze ... read more


WATER WORLD
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Brings 'Earthrise' to Everyone

Winners of 19th Annual NASA Great Moonbuggy Race Announced

Russian Space Agency eyes Moon explorations

Russia postpones Luna-Glob moon mission

WATER WORLD
Lava flows carved Mars valleys: study

Mars Astronauts Could Risk DNA Damage

Asteroid sites hint at life on Mars

WSU astrobiologist proposes fleet of probes to seek life on Mars

WATER WORLD
Space -- the next frontier for Hillary Clinton?

Company to Create 'Gas Stations' in Space

Boeing, NASA Sign Agreement on Mission Support for CST-100

Parachutes for NASA crew capsule tested

WATER WORLD
China's Lunar Docking

Shenzhou-9 may take female astronaut to space

China to launch 100 satellites during 2011-15

Three for Tiangong

WATER WORLD
Russian cargo ship docks at International Space Station

Russian Cargo Craft Launches to Station

Commercial Platform Offers Exposure at ISS

Learn to dock ATV the astronaut way

WATER WORLD
Indian rocket being fuelled for Risat-1 launch

Assembly begins for the third Ariane 5 to be launched in 2012

ILS Proton Successfully Launches Y1B Satellite For Yahsat

SpaceX aims for May 7 launch to ISS

WATER WORLD
Some Stars Capture Rogue Planets

ALMA Reveals Workings of Nearby Planetary System

UF-led team uses new observatory to characterize low-mass planets orbiting nearby star

When Stellar Metallicity Sparks Planet Formation

WATER WORLD
Google sells 3D modeling application SketchUp

The ultimate babysitter? iPads for infants stir debate

TED blends animation with education at new website

360-Degree MEADS Radar Begins Integration Testing




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement