Photos: Drought and a dam strangle the Mekong River in Thailand | Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Photos: Drought and a dam strangle the Mekong River in Thailand

Updated On Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

A $4.47 billion-dollar mega-dam in Laos was officially switched on October 29, as drone images of dessicated river beds downstream the Mekong river stirred outcry from conservationists and villagers who rely on the diverse ecosystem for food and livelihoods. Along parts of Thailand's northeastern border at Loei, the kilometre wide river which sustains tens of millions of people through fishing and agriculture has shrivelled to a few dozen metres, with boulders and bedrock encasing muddy pools of water. Fishermen blame a combination of this year's weak monsoon and the aforementioned Xayaburi dam, around 300 kilometres to the north.

1 / 10
The Mekong River at Sangkhom district in the northeastern Thai province of Nong Khai, with Laos on the right, on October 31, 2019. The once mighty Mekong River has been reduced to a thin, grubby neck of water across Northern Thailand - record lows blamed on drought and a recently opened dam hundreds of kilometers upstream. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

The Mekong River at Sangkhom district in the northeastern Thai province of Nong Khai, with Laos on the right, on October 31, 2019. The once mighty Mekong River has been reduced to a thin, grubby neck of water across Northern Thailand - record lows blamed on drought and a recently opened dam hundreds of kilometers upstream. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

2 / 10
An image from CK Power released on October 29, 2019 shows the Xayaburi dam, located in the lower Mekong river in Laos. The $4.47 billion Thai-owned Xayaburi dam went into operation this week in Laos after years of warnings over the potential impact on fish flow, sediment and water levels of a river which feeds millions. (CK Power / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

An image from CK Power released on October 29, 2019 shows the Xayaburi dam, located in the lower Mekong river in Laos. The $4.47 billion Thai-owned Xayaburi dam went into operation this week in Laos after years of warnings over the potential impact on fish flow, sediment and water levels of a river which feeds millions. (CK Power / AFP)

3 / 10
A fisherwoman walks on an embankment of the Mekong River in Pak Chom district in the Thai province of Loei. Along parts of this border province, the kilometre wide river has shrivelled to a few dozen metres, with boulders and bedrock encasing muddy pools of water. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

A fisherwoman walks on an embankment of the Mekong River in Pak Chom district in the Thai province of Loei. Along parts of this border province, the kilometre wide river has shrivelled to a few dozen metres, with boulders and bedrock encasing muddy pools of water. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

4 / 10
The Mekong River in Pak Chom district in Thailand with the Laos side at left. From above, the encroaching banks of Laos and Thailand are now a thread of water apart, restricting fishing grounds to a slim channel. Fishermen blame a combination of this year’s weak monsoon and the Xayaburi dam, around 300 kilometres to the north. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

The Mekong River in Pak Chom district in Thailand with the Laos side at left. From above, the encroaching banks of Laos and Thailand are now a thread of water apart, restricting fishing grounds to a slim channel. Fishermen blame a combination of this year’s weak monsoon and the Xayaburi dam, around 300 kilometres to the north. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

5 / 10
“I don’t want any more dam construction,” said fisherman Sup Aunkaew, who tossed a meagre catch into his boat, adding that the fish spawning habits have been “confused” by the unseasonally low water levels. “But we can’t really oppose their plans if they want to do it.” (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

“I don’t want any more dam construction,” said fisherman Sup Aunkaew, who tossed a meagre catch into his boat, adding that the fish spawning habits have been “confused” by the unseasonally low water levels. “But we can’t really oppose their plans if they want to do it.” (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

6 / 10
A dried riverbank area of Mekong River in Pak Chom district. Landlocked and impoverished Laos has set its sights on becoming “the battery of Asia”, with 44 operating hydro plants and 46 more under construction many on key tributaries of the Mekong, according to monitor International Rivers. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

A dried riverbank area of Mekong River in Pak Chom district. Landlocked and impoverished Laos has set its sights on becoming “the battery of Asia”, with 44 operating hydro plants and 46 more under construction many on key tributaries of the Mekong, according to monitor International Rivers. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

7 / 10
Thai tourists along the banks of the Mekong in the Thai province of Nong Khai, with Laos in the background. Experts say the dam-building frenzy in China and Laos has compounded the drought. “These are causing the Mekong to die a death of a thousand cuts,” said Brian Eyler, author of ‘The Last Days of the Mighty Mekong.’ “Some parts of the river (have) hit historic lows for any time of the year.” (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

Thai tourists along the banks of the Mekong in the Thai province of Nong Khai, with Laos in the background. Experts say the dam-building frenzy in China and Laos has compounded the drought. “These are causing the Mekong to die a death of a thousand cuts,” said Brian Eyler, author of ‘The Last Days of the Mighty Mekong.’ “Some parts of the river (have) hit historic lows for any time of the year.” (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

8 / 10
A Thai man gold panning along the Mekong River. Eyler said the lower part of the river is at a “crisis point” until rains come again next year but no one is sounding the alarm. The Mekong, which rises on the Tibetan plateau and courses through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam -- sustains tens of millions of people along its banks through fishing and agriculture. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

A Thai man gold panning along the Mekong River. Eyler said the lower part of the river is at a “crisis point” until rains come again next year but no one is sounding the alarm. The Mekong, which rises on the Tibetan plateau and courses through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam -- sustains tens of millions of people along its banks through fishing and agriculture. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

9 / 10
The 1,285-megawatt Xayaburi dam was built by CKPower -- a subsidiary of the Thai builder and majority shareholder CH Karnchang -- which went ahead with construction despite protests in Thailand, which is buying most of the electricity. As it began operations the company plastered Thai newspapers with advertising this week referring to the “greatness of the Mekong” and calling the dam “fish friendly”. (CK Power / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

The 1,285-megawatt Xayaburi dam was built by CKPower -- a subsidiary of the Thai builder and majority shareholder CH Karnchang -- which went ahead with construction despite protests in Thailand, which is buying most of the electricity. As it began operations the company plastered Thai newspapers with advertising this week referring to the “greatness of the Mekong” and calling the dam “fish friendly”. (CK Power / AFP)

10 / 10
The dam authorities did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment but trumpet its commitment to clean, sustainable energy. In July the dam operator denied tests on the mega-structure were responsible for the river to dry up downstream in northeastern Thailand. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 01, 2019 02:45 PM IST

The dam authorities did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment but trumpet its commitment to clean, sustainable energy. In July the dam operator denied tests on the mega-structure were responsible for the river to dry up downstream in northeastern Thailand. (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On