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Read this report in:   THAI

BANGKOK (IPS) — What may have once appeared to be a perfectly natural phenomenon — the rise of sand dunes in the midst of the Mekong river — is now receiving special attention because of what critics say they portend.

Those worried about this change in some parts of the river are harping on two specific points of concern: the timing and location of the appearance of the dunes.

The drop in the water levels at this time of the year is uncommon, say Thai environmentalists, and more so at the point where the large dunes have made their presence felt — the Golden Triangle.

The Golden Triangle is known for three reasons: its breathtaking landscape of craggy mountains and thick forests, as the point where three countries — Burma, Laos and Thailand — converge yet are separated by the waters of the Mekong; and until recently for being a centre of opium cultivation.

However, environmentalists like Chainarong Sretthachau have begun hinting that Golden Triangle may soon be known also as an area showing one of the clearest signs of the environmental impact of dams built or are being constructed by China in the upper stretches of the Mekong.

"The water is very low when you compare it with water levels last year. This is the lowest we have seen in the Golden Triangle area," said Chainarong, director of the Thai chapter of the South-east Asia Rivers Network (SEARIN), an environment lobby.

"We think this is the result of the dams in China, because they can now control the volume of water flowing downstream," he added during an interview. "The sign of the dunes mean things may get worse for the downstream countries."

Beijing has drafted plans to build eight dams to harness the waters of South-east Asia's largest river — the Mekong — which begins in the Tibetan plateau and journeys across 4,880 kilometres till it flows out into the South China Sea.

In 1995, China completed construction of the Manwan dam, as part of its plans to harness hydroelectric power and reduce dependence on pollutive coal plants. A second dam, the Dachaoshan, is due to completed soon and the 2.7 billion U.S. dollar Xiaowan dam is due to be commissioned in 2012.

But China's quest to dam the Mekong has worried downstream countries that say what may bring benefits to that country is causing problems like uneven water levels, disrupting livelihoods vital to residents in countries like Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Fisherman and Thai communities living on the banks of the Mekong have complained to SEARIN about the unusual fluctuations of water levels during the day — from being high, at times, during the morning, to a point so low in the afternoon that it prevents some fishermen from taking their boats out.

According to the hydrology station at Nong Khai, on the Thai border with Laos, "the water level had reached the lowest at 1.06 metres on Feb. 1," reported the English-language daily 'Bangkok Post' over the weekend.

Even environmentalists in China have noted new features in the stretch of the Mekong — which China calls the Lancang river — that flows through southern Yunnan province. "Near Jinghong city there are some big sand dunes also," Yu Xiaogang, deputy director at Green Watershed, a Lijiang-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) told IPS.

But Yu is not convinced that the Chinese dams are the only reason for the drastic drop in the Mekong's water level, a view also shared by John Parr, director of conservation at the Thai chapter of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

"I think there are several reasons, among them are soil erosion, landslides and reduction of river flow volume and speed," Yu explained. "This is a new issue (and) I don't think the Chinese government has paid attention on this issue."

According to Parr, the Chinese dams that have been built or are nearing completion are "fairly high up in the watershed" to create the impact being witnessed in the Mekong.

"I can't see it being a significant reason for the dunes appearing," he said during an interview. "It could be the result of changes in the environment. The area in northern Thailand has been unusually dry."

Chinese scientists and engineers have said the upstream dams will not cause flooding when water is released because only 13.47 percent of the Mekong's flow at its mouth in Vietnam originates from China's stretch of the river.

They also say that the dams can ease water shortages in the lower Mekong countries during the dry season and that increased water flows can help ease irrigation efforts and limit the amount of sediment in the lower reaches.

They concede though that the reservoir of the Xiaowan dam would cool water flowing downward from April to September and that the cooler water gathered in the reservoir may not be too good for the growth of crops and warmwater fish species.

China's behaviour has been the subject of criticism by environmental groups in the region and, on occasion, by governments affected by fluctuations in the river's waters.

In December, Thai environmentalists also raised a storm about the impact on this country if Beijing went ahead with its intention to dam South-east Asia's second largest river, the Salween, which flows through Yunnan and Thailand's northern border.

China has drawn a blueprint to build 13 dams on the Salween river, but did not gauge how such schemes would impact on the environment of downstream countries like Thailand, critics say.

The uproar prompted a reaction from Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who expressed hope that China would not "take advantage" over the smaller countries in the Mekong region.

This time too, the sudden appearance of the sand dunes in the Mekong river has also put Bangkok on notice. "We have not raised this issue with China yet, but we are gathering information," Sihasak Phuangketkeow, spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs, told IPS. "We might raise it at a meeting in Yunnan in April." (END/Copyright IPS)