Environmentalists urge Laos to scrap ‘destructive’ Mekong dam plans
Environmentalists have urged Laos not to proceed with the construction of another “destructive” dam on the Mekong River, a vital Southeast Asian waterway that sustains about 60 million people.
Last week, Laos’ communist government announced plans for the Sanakham dam – close to the northeastern border with Thailand – to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), as a new step in its ambitious goals to use hydropower to become the “Battery of Asia.”
The MRC is a dam consultation body for Mekong nations, but has been accused of rubberstamping river projects sponsored by governments and big business and of failing to consult properly with the local population and environmental groups.
Nicola Smith
