1967 

 Sofrelec, a French consulting firm, started a feasibility study on the hydropower potential of the Pak Moon River for the National Energy Authority (NEA) if a dam of the following characteristics was built: 

 Location: Kaeng Tana 

Drainage area: 185 sq km 

Normal water level: 112 m 

 February 1970 

 Sofrelec completed the feasibility study. It concluded that hydroelectric development on the Moon River was not viable. 

 1978 

 Egat completed its own feasibility study. 

 September 1980 

 Sogreah, another French consulting firm, completed an updated feasibility of the Pak Moon Multipurpose Development Project. The study showed that a dam was technically and economically feasible. 

 1981 

 The Pak Moon dam project was included in Egat's Power Development Plan (PDP). It was planned to start production in 1988. 

 January 1982 

Team Consultants Engineers, a Thai consulting firm, completed an Environmental Impact Study commissioned by Egat. The dam considered in the study was located at the Kaeng Tana falls, and would have a normal water level of 112 m, requiring the resettlement of 4,000 households. 

 1983

 Kaeng Tana was designated a national park. This led to an identification of an upstream site for the dam at Ban Hua Heo. 

 October 1985 

 Sogreah completed a new feasibility study for a dam at Ban Hua Heo, to avoid destroying the Kaeng Tana falls. The study, called Pak Moon Multipurpose Development Project: Feasibility Study, proposed that the dam be built with a normal water level of 108 m. 

 April 1989 

 Egat submitted the Pak Moon project for approval by the Cabinet. 

 April 1989 

 Villagers began a campaign to stop the construction of the dam.

 May 1989 

 The Cabinet approved the Pak Moon dam project with a total budget of 3.88 billion baht. 

 1989 

 The Pak Moon Dam appeared in the PDP as follows: Capacity: 136 MW Completion date: 

November 1992 

 Cost in US$: 149.2 million 

 May 1990 

 The Government set up a Committee for the Compensation of Land Rights and Properties as well as a Committee for Resettlement. 

 June 1990 

 The World Bank produced an Executive Project Summary, indicating the bank's interest in the Pak Moon project. 

 October 1990 

 World Bank staff completed an appraisal of the Third Power System Project that included the Pak Moon Dam. 

 January 1991

 Completion of preliminary work on the Pak Moon dam site. 

 February 1991 

 The Cabinet allowed Egat to operate a dam and power plant in Kaeng Tana National Park. 

 March 1991 

 Village representatives submitted a letter of protest against the construction of the dam to World Bank representatives in Bangkok. 

May 1991 

 Egat began blasting rapids, causing damage to some houses in the area. 

 September 1991 

 The NESDB approved a 6.6 billion-baht modification of the project.

December 1991 

 The Board of Directors of the World Bank approved a US$54 million loan for the Third Power System Project, which included the Pak Moon Dam. 

 January 1992 

Contracts were awarded to successful bidders for the construction of the dam. 

 March 1993 

 Villagers protesting at the dam site clashed with police. Subsequently, a negotiation was held, resulting in Egat agreeing to map out a plan to compensate displaced villagers. 

 November 1993

 Completion of the powerhouse 

 December 1993 

 Village leaders Wanida Tantiwithyapitak and Thongcharoen Sihadham were arrested by Khong Jiam police. 

 December 1993 

 The Government set up a Committee for Assistance to Project Affected Persons to replace the Committee for the Compensation of Land Rights and Properties and the Committee for Resettlement. 

 January 1994 

 Before the impoundment of the dam, protesting villagers supported by NGOs came to Bangkok demanding compensation for families who depend on fishing to earn a living. 

 February 1994 

 Completion of coffer dams. 

 October 1994

 Completion and commissioning of all four turbine generators and high-voltage equipment. Over 2,000 protesting villagers demanded an annual compensation of 35,000 baht per family for a period of three years, plus 10 rai of land for resettlement. 

 January 1995

 Full operation started as all construction work was completed. January 1995 The government agreed to compensate fishermen who lost their livelihood. 

 March 1995 

 The fisheries development centre was completed. 

 March 1995 

 Final disbursement of World Bank funds for the project. 

 June 1995 

 Khon Kaen University carried out a post-project implementation socio-economic survey of households affected by the dam. 

 December 1995 

 Villagers suffering from large-scale development projects decided to set up an umbrella group to address their problems under the name of the Forum of the Poor. 

 May 1996

The fisheries development centre started to stock the Moon River with fish. 

 June 1996

 The World Bank completed its Implementation Completion Report on the Third Power System Development Project, which had a total cost of US$233 million. 

 December 1996 

 End of the fisheries development programme implemented by Egat with the help of World Bank funds. 

 September 1997 

 End of the fisheries development programme implemented by the Department of Fisheries with the help of World Bank funds. 

 April 1998

 Chuan Leekpai's Cabinet Resolution cancelled a plan by previous governments to offer compensation to 3,084 families affected by the Pak Moon dam construction. 

 June 1998 

 The World Bank's Operations Evaluation Department released a report saying the Pak Moon Dam's resettlement programme was "exceedingly generous" it could be considered to be in "a class of its own". The OED report also denied the dam caused any decline in the fish population in the Moon River. 

 March 1999 

 A protest village called Mae Moon Man Yuen was established at the Pak Moon Dam site. 

 March 2000 

 The World Commission on Dams released a summary of its evaluation on the Pak Moon Dam, criticising the low returns of the project. 

 April 2000 

 Egat announced the government's compensation programme had reached its final stage, and no more villagers would receive any money. Negotiations over land compensation, however, is still under way.uSources: World Commission on Dams; Friends of People