Ploenpote Atthakor , Bangkok Post 26 Aug 2001

The Pak Moon dam's sluice gates should remain open after the four-month trial period ends in October, experts and environmentalists said yesterday.

More time was needed for researchers to look into the impact on the river, comparing outcomes when the gates were closed and opened.

The dam's gates were opened on June 14, one month after the date set by cabinet to allow fish in the Mekong river to migrate and spawn upstream.

Two research works were initiated to study the result, one by Ubon Ratchathani University and the other by the National Economic and Social Development Board.

Suphavit Piamphongsant, chief inspector-general of the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry, said the studies would not be completed unless the grace period was extended.

``The researcher needs at least one year to study the full cycle of the river,'' Mr Suphavit told a seminar on dams and development at Chulalongkorn University.

Comprehensive studies were necessary to give a clear answer about any damage the dam caused to the river and people's livelihoods.

Most dam builders, including those involved in the Pak Moon dam, tended to deliberately overestimate benefits while underestimating the environmental and social impact.

``That is the reason why many, if not all, projects were approved.

``Had the impact been considered genuinely, a number of large-scale projects would have been found to be not feasible,'' he said.

Ammar Siamwalla, an academic, said the Pak Moon dam was not economically viable and should never have been built.

The case reflected a flaw in the state decision-making process.

The project sailed through the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the development board, and the World Bank without question as to its viability.

``The Pak Moon dam is a lesson for society. It helped us realise the failure of project evaluation in Thailand,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Wanida Tantiwitthayapitak, adviser to the Assembly of the Poor, said she was concerned about Egat officers attempting to divide Pak Moon villagers.

``Money was dumped into the area to buy local leaders, especially those in Khong Chiam district.

``This was aimed at pushing for the dam's operation.''

This was the same group of Egat-backed people who blocked the opening of the dam gates.