BANGKOK, July 19 (TNA) – Gripped by alarming low water
level of the Mekong River, Thailand has urged the Lao government to suspend the
trial operations of Xayaburi hydropower dam.
The international river water levels have fallen drastically
due mainly to dam operations in China, generating grave concerns over Mekong
ecosystems and the livelihood of millions of people who depend on the river.
Somkiat Prajumwong, secretary-general at Thailand’s Office
of National Water Resources (ONWR), said on Friday the agency sent a letter
asking the Lao government to suspend the trial of the Xayaburi Dam for a few
days.
Laos on July 15 started the trial which lasted until July
29.
The trial worsened the situation as it caused the water
level to drop dramatically, Somkiat said.
China’s Jinghong Dam operation and the lack of rainfalls had
also been blamed for the worst water crisis in the Mekong River basin in nearly
30 years, he added.
The ONWR expected the situation to be improved in the next
2-3 days as more water would be discharged from China’s dams, he said.
Mekong River levels on the Lao-Thai border fell at an
alarming rate; measured lower than one meter in many parts.
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has said China lowered the
discharge rate from Jinhong Dam by half between July 5 and 17.
Eight provinces along the Mekong River have been warned of
the impacts but local groups and academics have said extreme changes in water
levels had already affected fish stocks in the river.
Man-made crisis has already caused massive biodiversity loss
and extreme environmental degradation.(TNA)
