Cambodia queries Mekong tourist plan

"We're talking about diversion of waterways. When you abolish islands, it creates an impact on the water system," said Mok Mareth.

"It could create more floods than before, I don't know. But we have to assess impact from the dredging."The Cambodian environment minister was responding to news reports that his country's four neighbours to the north have agreed to jointly develop tourism in the mighty Mekong river.

The plan calls for the deepening and widening of the water channel to allow large tour boats to pass through. This would necessitate blasting small islands dotting the river. Some environmentalists are concerned the blasting would destroy the natural habitat of fish and other aquatic species.

But Mr Mok Mareth's concern was the water flow which could change and cause a negative impact downstream. Parties to the plan, he said, should adhere to United Nations guidelines on assessing the environmental impact of major development projects which could affect other countries.

Vietnam is the other country in the Mekong river basin.

The Cambodian minister was attending the International Conference on Biodiversity and Society at Columbia University in New York where he presented a case study on the Tonle Sap lake as a "biosphere" or natural reserve. The four-day conference, which ended on Friday, was jointly organised by the university and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Unesco operates the Programme on Man and the Biosphere which promotes the conservation and "wise use" of natural resources.

Mr Mok Mareth called for a dialogue involving all countries in the Mekong basin. He said the Mekong River Commission should look at all issues involved and organise regional discussions with the aim of launching an environmental impact study.

"We need mitigation measures," he said.

But while the Mekong River Commission may wish to get involved in the plan, it may lack the mandate to do so. A commission official attending the same conference said the commission is operating under the 1995 agreement among Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. China and Burma are not members to the agreement.

However, Burma, China, Laos and Thailand have signed a commercial navigation agreement. The official said the commission would like to see the two agreements "connected".

"We have been having a dialogue meeting with China and [Burma] every year. We would like to get involved with the project."He said the tourism development plan was still at an early stage and not likely to take off any time soon. While China and Burma are eager to get started, Laos and Thailand are more cautious and have suggested an impact assessment study be conducted.

The stumbling block is that each country is to be responsible for conducting a study on the section of the river which will be affected.

Laos appears to have to bear the heaviest burden but is the least able to afford it.

In spite of its professed concern about the environmental impact, Cambodia is anxious to be invited to participate in the project.

"Cambodia should be a part of the project provided that mitigation measures are taken," said Mr Mok Mareth. He said the project fits in with Cambodia's plan to declare 2003 the Year of Tourism.

"Tourism is vitally important to our economic development.. I hope we could have good co-operation," he said.

But he admitted that Cambodia might not be in a position to participate because of poor infrastructure and because it is difficult to navigate in the stretch of Mekong that flows through the country.