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  SRP Concerned About Effects of Mekong Hydropower Dam

The Cambodia Daily   10 September 2009

By Paul Vrieze and Chhorn Chansy

The SRP has sent a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen requesting information
on what the government is doing to study and reduce the potential impact of
a large hydropower project planned on the Mekong River in Laos, close to
Cambodia, SRP lawmaker Yim Sovann said Wednesday.

"We are very concerned. We would like to know the consequences of the dam
and then have the government take action to prevent the negative
consequences," Mr Sovann said.

SRP lawmaker Son Chhay wrote and sent the letter dated Aug 28 to National
Assembly President Heng Samrin, who forwarded it to Mr Hun Sen on Sept 7 to
inquire if the government will conduct a study on the impact of Don Sahong
dam and if it is found to have a significant impact on Cambodian territory,
to discuss the project with the Lao government. The letter also requested
that any available project information known to the government be made
public.

In recent months, international researchers and fish experts have warned
that the dam could severely impact fisheries on the Mekong River and
consequently harm the nutritional status of hundreds of thousands or even
millions of people dependent on its fish.

The Lao government has already agreed on the project studeies and
environment impact assessment of the dam, but those studies did not include
the project's impact outside Laos. The dam is one of 211 hydropower
projects planned on the mainstream Mekong River in Laos, Cambodia and the
Lao-Thai border.

CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said he was also concerned about the potential
impact of the planned hydropower development on Cambodia. Mr Yeap added
that the inter-governmental Mekong River Commission had studied the effects
of the Don Sahong dam, adding that the results were still unavailable to the
government.

"If the result of the study shows it could seriously affect Cambodia, we
will request [the Lao government] to stop building the dam project.
Building a dam should profit both sides," he said.

Chhith Sam Ath, Executive Director of NGO Forum, declined to comment on the
letter by the SRP, but added that the government should take action to
prevent the dam from negatively impacting Mekong River fisheries and help
people that depend on the river to gain influence over the project.

"It's an issue of national concern because if the dam goes ahead, it will
impact a large number of people who live from fishing," Mr Sam Ath said.

"It will have an impact beyond Laos, so there should be very broad
consultation," he said, adding that the MRC should play a role in resolving
the issues surrounding the Don Sahong dam.
 
 

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