Two Month Survey Commences on Mekong River Channel Prior to Blasting

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CHIANG RAI – The Provincial Marine Department Office has reported that survey work for the improvement of the navagation channel on the Mekong River in Chiang Saen will begin on Wednesday.

An official letter from Chiang Rai Provincial Marine Department said the China’s Second Harbor Consultants, will start the survey on the Mekong River navigation channel improvement between Thailand and Laos in Chiang Rai on Wednesday.

Second Harbor Consultants advised that the survey will take approximately two months to complete. They did not disclose any details about the nature of this survey work.

Jirasak Inthayod, the coordinator of Rak Chiang Khong Network said he was informed that the survey will be part of the preparations to blast the rocky rapids in the Mekong River for large cargo ships to pass from China’s Yunnan Province to Luang Prabang in Laos.

Jirasak said the survey doesn’t consider the impacts to the ecosystem, environment and the people’s livelihood and the Rak Chiang Khong Network will will begin demonstrating on Friday, along with local people.

Thailand’s Military Government gave its approval last December to the so-called “Development Plan of International Navigation on the Lancang-Mekong River: 2015-2025”.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has brushed aside any enviromental concerns, saying it is more important to balance environmental considerations with economic development.