upriver dams impact downstream countries

August 27th, 2007 at 7:59 am (IMMF Article 2002)

By Pouv Savuth,

The article was published in The IMMF Mekong River Times and The Nation,

November 2002, Bangkok, Thailand

The word “flood” brings bitter memories to downstream people in the Mekong River Basin. Devastating floods over the few years in Cambodia and Vietnam caused millions of dollars in damage to homes and crops, and claimed thousands of lives.

Environmental scientists say there are several possible reasons, including unusual weather patterns linked to global warning, years of widespread logging and even the construction of upstream dams.

Chinese dams may have contributed to this year’s flooding because excess water was released from reservoirs during the height of the rainy season, scientists say.

“Dam construction by the upriver countries causes serious impact to downstream countries along the Mekong River, especially Cambodia because the country is flat or lying close to the river,” said Ian Baird, Director of Global Association for People and Environment, an NGO based in Laos.

The situation could get worse. China plans to build eight dams on the upper Mekong (known as the Lancang in Chinese) to supply power to southern China and Thailand. Two dams have already been constructed.

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