Showing 1-10 of 48 results
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Flood policy needs revamp
News, Editorial, Published on 25/09/2015
» Tropical storm Vamco has brought heavy downpours and flash floods to many parts of the nation. Water levels in many dams across the country are no longer in the red. Has Thailand now been saved from its most severe drought in decades? The answer is no.
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Forest policy off track
News, Editorial, Published on 02/10/2015
» Natural Resources and Environment Ministry deputy permanent secretary Supoj Towichakchaikul has described his ministry's mission to expand forest areas as an uphill task. He is right about this.He blamed the difficulties on a lack of resources and personnel, local resistance, and a lack of inter-agency co-ordination. This is where Mr Supoj went wrong.
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It's all a dry argument
News, Editorial, Published on 07/10/2015
» The government has unfortunately become involved in a dispute with farmers that should not have occurred. There have been testy exchanges from both sides. The root of the unpleasantness is water, or more specifically the lack of it because of extended weather conditions. In the main and unhelpful exchanges, authorities have made somewhat unrealistic demands and suggestions. The farmers have replied with defiant words, plus actions that seem certain to escalate the problems over the next few months, rather than ease the tension.
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Laos ignores dam flak
News, Editorial, Published on 04/11/2015
» The Lao government is forging ahead with the construction of the massive Don Sahong dam, close to the tri-border area with Thailand and Cambodia, within the next few weeks. The dam is yet another large-scale project being undertaken by Vientiane to make Laos "the battery of Southeast Asia". Under the programme, Laos intends to become a serious electricity exporter to its neighbours. This may happen. But what is already certain to happen is that the projects will disrupt the Mekong River and affect the people of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand like never before.
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Old problem, no solution
News, Editorial, Published on 22/12/2015
» The weekend newspapers carried word of another conflict causing rancour and ill feelings. This time, the dispute centred on Mae Sariang district of Mae Hong Son, where differences of opinion have bubbled for nine years. As in myriad cases in the past, villagers are basically opposed to plans by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to build a dam. But the foundation of the struggle is an old one, that government and its authorities refuse to bring in local people to work on an obvious problem.
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Hoping is not a plan
News, Editorial, Published on 02/02/2016
» The Royal Irrigation Department actually sounds quite cheerful about the water situation for the coming hot season. Deputy chief Suthep Noipairoj explained last week there is enough water behind RID dams in the Chao Phraya River basin to keep taps flowing until May. And then, he said, it will be the rainy season. Mr Suthep should know this is not encouraging news. While May might be marked on calendars for rain, it is hardly dependable. Last year, the rains began in September.
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No need to revisit dam
News, Editorial, Published on 15/09/2016
» Emotions are running high after the controversial Mae Wong dam project was dusted off amid reports it might be up for a possible fast-track approval through Section 44 of the interim charter. Extreme sentiments, however, do not lie at the heart of the matter regarding this large-scale project. It's data, and its careful consideration to determine whether the project is a worthy investment.
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Choking off the Mekong
News, Editorial, Published on 11/11/2016
» The Mekong, Asia's third-longest international river, is increasingly dammed, notably by China in its upper part and Laos in the lower stretches. Threats to the river's diverse ecology, especially its fish population, from existing and planned hydropower projects are imminent but inevitable.
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The sad tale of the tiger
News, Editorial, Published on 28/01/2017
» The death of a tiger from Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary this month provides a stark illustration as to how our forest "management" has failed abysmally.
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Hydro dams pace alarming
News, Editorial, Published on 24/06/2017
» The inter-governmental consultation on the Pak Beng project, the third hydroelectric dam planned to be built on the Mekong River in Laos, tells us a lot about the future of dam building on this mighty international waterway.
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