Chiang Rai: Thailand is pushing for a proposal urging six members of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) to share information on the management of dams in the Mekong River, among other issues, to help improve the way water resources are controlled.
Vorasat Apaipong, chief of the Department of Water Resources, said yesterday the information, especially from China, is crucial to reducing the impact of the dams on countries in the lower part of the Mekong River, known in China as Lancang.
China has built several dams with a total storage capacity of 22,000 million cubic metres and those development projects directly impact countries downstream, said Mr Vorasat.
While dams can help a country maintain the security of its water resources, they can also adversely impact farming, navigation and other areas.
As such, it is extremely important for member countries to work closely on this issue to ensure mutual benefits, with information sharing being a key component, Mr Vorasat said.
"If they have access to data and know when the water will be released, they can make adjustments," he said at a seminar on Transboundary Water Resources and Related Resources held in this northern province.
According to Mr Vorasat, while it is impossible to prohibit China from building dams, dialogue must be pursued to minimise negative side-effects and avoid conflict.
Eight Thai provinces along the Mekong River stand to be affected by China's release of water. But with enough information, the authorities would be able to respond to changes in water levels in the Mekong more effectively, he added.
He said the proposal was submitted at the seminar, which ended yesterday.
The MLC is one of several development frameworks for the sub-region that covers China, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
It also covers connectivity, production capacity and cross-border economic cooperation.
Pakaimas Vierra, who owns the Mekong Delta Travel Agency, said sharing information on water management should help downstream countries make better decisions.
