Residents protest 200-billion-baht dam project in Phrae

Approximately 150 residents from Tambon Sa-Ieab in Phrae‘s Song district gathered yesterday, September 1 to protest against the proposed Kaeng Sue Ten dam project, arguing it would impact thousands of households and devastate over 10,000 rai of prime forest.

The protesters, who assembled at Wat Sri Don Chai, voiced their disapproval of politicians advocating for the dam‘s revival following recent floods.

Chief of Sa-Ieab Tambon Administrative Organisation, Nattapakul Srikhampha, led the protesters. They expressed concerns over caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s plan to restart a 200-billion-baht water management project aimed at mitigating flooding in the Yom River basin. They also criticised former deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi for suggesting the dam’s construction proceed.

Nattapakul stated that the villagers opposed the dam project because it would affect thousands of households and obliterate over 10,000 rai of golden teak forest.

“It would help block the flow of 11 tributaries, but it won’t do anything to the 66 tributaries downstream of the dam.”

Nattapakul referenced a study by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the United Nations, which found the dam would only reduce flooding in the Yom River basin by 8%.

Significant risk

The construction would also devastate 40,000 to 60,000 rai of forest in the area, potentially worsening droughts and floods in the future, in addition to harming local communities. Nattapakul added that the proposed dam would be located on a fault line, posing a significant risk. If the dam were to break, it could lead to a massive disaster in Phrae, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Nakhon Sawan, among other areas.

The villagers urged the government to respect nature in their water resource management efforts and avoid causing further environmental damage. They called for the consideration of new ideas instead of relying on outdated methods like building dams.

Prasitphon Kala-onsri, another key protest leader, said the residents of Don Chai, Mae Ten, Don Kaew, and Don Chai Sakthong villages would continue their fight against the dam until the end. They urged the government to scrap the project and explore sustainable water management solutions to control flooding throughout the Yom River basin.

As of yesterday, floods were still reported across three northern provinces and one northeastern province in Thailand, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Floodwaters had slightly receded in Chiang Rai, Sukhothai, and Nong Khai but were rising in Phitsanulok.

The affected areas included Khun Tan, Phaya Mengrai, Thoeng, and Wiang Kaen districts of Chiang Rai; Bang Rakam and Phrom Phiram districts in Phitsanulok; Kong Krailat, Muang, Sawankhalok, Sri Nakhon, Sri Samrong, and Sri Satchanalai districts in Sukhothai; and Muang, Ratana Wapi, Sangkhom, Sri Chiang Mai, and Tha Bo districts of Nong Khai.

Chaiwat Chuntirapong, director-general of the department, attributed the floods to persistent rain, which has affected 3,979 families in 223 villages across the four provinces. Since August 16, floods have impacted 23 provinces and claimed 22 lives, reported Bangkok Post.