14 June 2002

IRRIGATION SCHEMES

The Irrigation Department will shelve all dam projects opposed by local people and green groups, its chief Kijja Polphasri said yesterday in a speech marking the department's 100th anniversary.

``If people don't want dams, we will not go ahead with them,'' he said.

The department still strongly believed dams were effective tools for water management, he said. But as there were already too many conflicts over its dam projects the department thought it should avoid creating more controversies.

Projects that would be put on hold included Kang Sue Ten in Phrae, Mae Wong in Nakhon Sawan, Thasae-Rub Ror in Chumphon and Prong Khun Petch in Chaiyaphum.

Mr Kijja said his department would spend more money on maintenance of its existing irrigation works than on construction of new ones.

The Irrigation Department receives an annual budget of more than 30 billion baht, making it the richest of all agencies under the Agriculture Ministry.

So far, the department has built 800 large dams, 8,000 small dams and 3,000 royal-initiated dam projects.

Mr Kijja said Thailand still had ample water resources, but increasing consumption, particularly in the agricultural sector, could cause a water shortage about 10 years from now.

Water consumption would rise from 28 to 38 billion cubic metres in the next decade, while the existing dams could store only 32 billion cubic metres.

This meant that building more dams in the future was unavoidable, he said.

Mr Kijja also complained that many of the projects in the pipeline had been blocked by Forestry Department chief Plodprasop Suraswadi's refusal to allow their construction in forest areas.

``For the benefit of the people, it is unreasonable to keep the forest untouchable,'' Mr Kijja said.

Harnnarong Yaowalert, of Wildlife Fund Thailand, accused the Irrigation Department of turning a deaf ear to suggestions from local people and environmentalists about its dam projects.

``Irrigation officials always regard dam opponents as enemies.

``That's why most of its irrigation projects have generated a lot of controversy,'' he said.

Mr Harnnarong called on the department to improve efficiency in implementing its irrigation schemes, citing the collapse of 15 small dams in the past seven years.

Prasittiporn Karn-onsri, adviser to the Assembly of the Poor grassroots group, lauded the department's decision to put its controversial projects on hold, and to adjust its strategy by focusing on integrated water management and taking into account petitions from opponents of its projects.

But Mr Prasittiporn also said he doubted the promises made in Mr Kijja's speech would be put into practice.

He called on the department to correct its past mistakes in implementing its irrigation projects.

He pointed to Bang Pakong dam which he said had been of no benefit to the local community and had also caused severe water pollution in the area.

The department should also cancel its plan to build sluice gates across the Tha Chin river in Nakhon Prathom province.

The project was being opposed by local groups who feared it would result in the degradation of the river, Mr Prasitthiporn said.

Mr Harnnarong suggested that the department, instead of trying to to propagandise benefits of large dams, should work harder to get water to small-scale farmers with limited access to irrigation schemes.

Currently, the department's irrigation system covers only 22 million rai of the country's total 130 million rai of agricultural land.

Mr Hannarong repeated his proposal that some ineffective dams be demolished to rehabilitate river ecology.

Thai environmental NGOs last year joined the International Commission on Dams in a campaign demanding governments free the rivers by breaking down unavailing dams worldwide.