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Pak Moon dam gates to open fully
Villagers tired of constant Egat delays
By Kultida Samabuddhi
Bangkok Post. 10 June 2007.
After a delay of one and a half months, the Pak Moon dam's sluice
gates will be fully opened next Sunday to allow fish from the Mekong
river to migrate to the Moon river in Ubon Ratchathani province. Pak
Moon fishermen have already started to fish in the river after the
Energy Ministry partially lifted the gates last Thursday to adjust the
water level in preparation of the full opening of the dam's eight
gates, prompting some Mekong fish stock to swim into the Moon river.
Controversy over the opening of the Pak Moon dam sluice gates emerges
almost every year as the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
(Egat), the dam operator, consistently delays the gate opening.
A 2004 cabinet resolution instructs Egat to open the gates for four
months starting in May, which is the beginning of the wet season, to
allow fish from the Mekong river to spawn in the Moon river, boosting
fish stocks.
The opening has been delayed for almost 50 days this year, leading to
a protest by Pak Moon villagers in Bangkok last month.
The Energy Ministry, which oversees Egat, eventually agreed on May 29,
that the Pak Moon dam sluice gates will be fully opened to allow a
free flow of the river for four months, starting from June 17.
''Later is better than never,'' said Pak Moon villager representative
Sompan Kuendee. ''But we hope that this will be the last time that we
are kept waiting because the delays badly affect us.''
The villagers said the beginning of May was the most appropriate time
to open the sluice gates because it was the peak of fish migration
season.
The delay of the opening would result in a decrease of fish stock in
the Moon river because less fish will spawn in the river, they say.
''More importantly, the villagers need money from selling fish during
this time of the year, when schools are opened and family expenses are
higher,'' Ms Sompan said.
Nantachote Chairat, adviser to the Assembly of the Poor, a network of
people affected by state policies and projects, including the dam,
said the villagers demanded the sluice gates be opened permanently.
Research conducted by various agencies showed that electricity
production was only a ''by-product'' of the dam, he said.
The Energy Ministry also says in the May 29 cabinet resolution which
acknowledges the dam gates opening that the dam should be operated
mainly for fisheries and irrigation purposes, he said.
The ministry told cabinet that even without electricity supply from
the dam, there will be sufficient electricity for the northeastern
region. ''Therefore, the dam should mainly serve fisheries and
irrigation activities,'' according to the cabinet resolution.
Pak Moon fishermen will hold a celebration of the dam gates opening on
Thursday to welcome the fishing season
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