Executive Summary National Sector Overview : Integrated Report

Transcription

1 Executive Summary National Sector Overview : Integrated Report BDP Unit Thai National Mekong Committee Department of Water Resources Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment April 2547

2 Contents Page Preamble...1 Development Efforts and Policies...1 The Mekong Basin s Part in Thailand...2 An analysis by Sectors...5 Watershed Management...5 Irrigation/Irrigated Agriculture...5 Water Supply for Domestic Uses...7 Hydropower...7 Flood Management...8 Fisheries...10 Navigation...11 Tourism...12 An Analysis of Cross Cutting Issues...13 Cross Sectoral Issues...13 Cross Cutting Issues...14 Trans-boundary Issues...15 Guidelines for New Project/Activity...16 Mekhong / X-SR

3 Executive Summary Preamble This integrated report on National Sector Overview of Thailand was prepared, following the Basin Development Plan (BDP) process agreed upon by countries in the lower Mekong River Basin (the Basin) comprising of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. The report presented a basic data and information on the Basin s part of Thailand, its Sub-areas (SA) as defined by BDP and relevant development policies covering eight (8) Sectors, namely, 1) Watershed Management, 2) Irrigation/Irrigated Agriculture, 3) Water Supply for Domestic Uses, 4) Hydropower, 5) Flood Protection, 6) Fisheries, 7) Navigation and 8), Tourism. Principal objectives of the report were to share relevant facts on the subject in respect to Thailand with other member countries, to facilitate understanding of key stakeholders in Thailand particularly at the SA level on the necessity of BDP and to enable them to participate effectively in the planning and identifying projects for a sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin. The report had five Chapters. The introductory one explained objectives and related conceptual framework of the report. Chapter 2 elaborated a brief history of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and the BDP. Chapter 3 described physical setting of the Basin s part in Thailand while Chapter 4 provided the details of important policies, problems as well as development issues (by sectors) of the eight sectors involved. Chapter 5 then presented an analytical approach, discussing cross sectoral issues, cross cutting issues as well as those of trans-boundary ones, aiming at facilitating understanding of the key stakeholders on possible impacts and/or outcome of a development project upon others within the same sector or, between sectors. It was emphasized that development projects are still important to Thailand and other member countries who own and share commonly the Mekong water and related resources. Development Efforts and Policies Over the years, Thailand, as one of the four member countries of the Mekong Committee in the past or the MRC, as it is known today, has been planning and implementing a large number of development projects in the lower Mekong basin. The principle of joint-decision making process has been followed, resulted in such documents as the Indicative Basin Plan and the Annual Work Programme. The same would also be applied to the case of Basin Development Plan being formulated. In addition, a large number of projects in various fields have also been implemented in the Mekong Basin part within Thailand under the framework of national 5-year Social and Economic Development Plans (FYP), provincial plans and resolutions of the Cabinet, by the responsible government departments and agencies. The current FYP (the 9 th one) is placing an emphasis on 3 key issues, namely, eradication of poverty, building up and strengthening of social infrastructures and economic restructuring for self-reliance and external competition. The Plan emphasizes Mekhong / X-SR 1

4 the importance of efficient management through an integrated approach, with cooperation from all concerned and bureaucratic reform. Important policies pertaining to the use of water resources, including water from the Mekong River and its tributaries in Thailand, include the following: To manage the existing water resources and bring them for use to the maximum potential To identify more of multi-purpose water resources by means of people s participation process To study ways and means to manage underground water, quantitatively and qualitatively, in accordance with its potential To enable collection of service-fees on raw water being used for industries, commerce and water work To develop water forecast-system to mitigate water shortage and flood problems To formulate a master plan for integrated water management at basin level, emphasizing people s participation The Mekong Agreement on Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin (Mekong Agreement) has set the principles for water utilization from the Mekong River system and organizational structure that would help enable environmental conservation and sustainable development. Three core Programmes were outlined in this Agreement, namely, the BDP, Water Utilization Programme (WUP) and Environment Programme (EP). Recently, apart from several support programmes, Flood Mitigation and Management was added into it as another core Programme of the MRC. Within the BDP context, three components will be implemented in parallel, i.e., capacity building, public/people s participation and development planning. BDP will be a development plan in which key stakeholders participate intensively in identifying the problems and projects required. Following these practices, it is expected that the Plan will be better recognized and put into implementation with a high success. In Thailand, policies related to water resources development and utilization place an emphasis on the importance of public/people s participation. Planning procedure is also similar to those of the BDP process. In view of this, participation of key stakeholders at the SA level in the planning and identifying BDP projects on the basis of sufficient and correct information should be highly useful for completing the basin-wide level BDP being formulated currently to cover projects for all the four MRC member countries. The Mekong Basin s Part in Thailand The Lower Mekong Basin has a total area of 606,000 Km 2 of which about 188,645 Km 2 is the Basin s area in Thailand. Under the context of BDP, the area was divided into a few SAs as following: SA-2T covers mainly areas of Kok and Ing river-basins located in Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces, with a total area of 18,859 Km 2. SA-3T covers areas of eight provinces, i.e., Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Loei, Nong Bualamphu, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phnom, Mukdahan and Amnat Charoen, with a total area of 46,460 Km 2. Mekhong / X-SR 2

5 SA-5T covers a very large area that for the purpose of this study, was divided again into two areas: SA 5T-1 covering a total area of 49,476 Km 2 in six provinces, namely, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Maha-sarakham, Roi Et, Kalasin and Yasothon and SA 5T-2 covering a total area of 69,700 Km 2 in five provinces, namely, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani. SA-9T covers areas of Sa Kaew and Chanthaburi provinces, with a total area of 4,150 Km 2. It is a part of sub-basin Tonle Sap (see Map 1). Some 25 million people live in the Basin s part of Thailand. More than 80% of the population perform agriculture, growing particularly rice which constitutes the largest portion of all, i.e., about 35 million rai (or, 5.6 million ha). Irrigation area is 8.84 million rai. However, soil fertility is rather poor and of low fertility, with a wide spread of salinity soils. These form a major problem that made it difficult for development and accordingly, revenue of the people, particularly farm income, is low in general. Annual water flow from the Basin s part in Thailand to the Mekong is 71,475 million m 3. Previously, large dams were constructed mainly in sub-areas 3T and 5T, to store surface water for the development purpose. They included Ubon Ratana Dam, Sirindhorn Dam, Lam Pao Dam, Nam Oon Dam, Lam Takhong Dam, etc. The total amount of water that can be stored by these dams, 11 altogether, is 7,341 million m 3. Other projects were, however, of small- and medium-scale nature, comprising more than 22,300 projects with a combined storage capacity of 1,616 million m 3. This water is used mainly for agriculture. It should be added that there are 990 electrical pumping stations located within the area, irrigating some 1.4 million rai of agricultural lands. Development of underground water has been basically for domestic uses, with a rather limited scope for agriculture due to both the quantity and quality problems. Forest area, particularly of watershed upstream, is considerably abundant in SA-2T. In sub-areas 3T and 5T, however, the area decreased remarkably during the last 40 years due to several reasons, i.e., dropping from 44 million rai in 1960 to only 13 million rai at the present. This represents one of the most critical problems of the Basin s part in Thailand. Overally and compared it to the national profile, it may be said that the Mekong Basin s part in Thailand is least developed; the basin s inhabitants have low income, causing such social problem as migration of labor to other regions. However, depending on the possible use of Mekong water and its related resources, this part of the Basin still has a high potential for development in such areas as industries, tourism, energy, irrigated agriculture, etc. Mekhong / X-SR 3

6 Map 1 BDP Sub-areas of Lower Mekong B i Mekhong / X-SR 4

7 An analysis by Sectors 1) Watershed Management In the Mekong Basin s part of Thailand, lands classified as classes 1 and 2 that are important watershed of river-basins, are very limited in general. For the Mun basin, area of these two categories is only 3.4% (of total basin s area). For the Chi and the Kok basins, they are 13.3% and 36%, respectively. Management of forest/watershed upstream is a part of river basin management which normally covers various activities, including allocation of water (quantitatively and qualitatively) among different economic sectors within a basin. It represents, however, one of the most important work/tasks of the MRC. The national FYPs, since the 3 rd one of , and especially the Cabinet resolution of October 2000 on National Water Policy have set forth important directives for managing watershed and water resources of the country as following: Forestry By various means, to increase forest area in the Mekong, Chi and Mun river basins where the damage (to forest area) was most critical, i.e., on the average of 1.12 million rai per year ( record). As mentioned earlier, ratios of forest conservation area to the total in these basins are relatively low. Soil and water quality To consider projects for improving fertility of sandy and salinity soils. For water, to have measures for treatment of wastewater from plants/factories in accordance with the established standards. Campaigns should be conducted for the people living within the basins to cooperate in reducing the use of agricultural chemicals and in purifying waste water from households prior to releasing it back to natural water bodies. Water conservation To the extent possible, to motivate and encourage people s participation in various activities related to water in their respective areas, to help create the sense of ownership and economic use of water. To promote the use of new technology in production process, changes in crop pattern and crop diversification, installation of equipment to measure water use, adoption of monetary measures, such as collection of water fees, for long-term efficiency and effectiveness of water use in the basins. As an effort to solve the problem of water shortage during the dry season which is critical in every part of the Mekong Basin, to undertake a comprehensive study and to plan for utilization of underground water within the basin. In the longer term perspective, measures may include diversion of water from nearby basins, taking fully into consideration physical feasibility and possible impacts thereof. 2) Irrigation/Irrigated Agriculture Development of irrigation for agriculture is one of the major activities/tasks of MRC and one of the eight key development sectors under the context of BDP. As mentioned, more than 22,300 irrigation projects have already been developed and constructed in the Mekong Basin s part of Thailand, with the total Mekhong / X-SR 5

8 benefited area of over 8.84 million rai. Nevertheless, the irrigated area is small compared to the existing agricultural lands in total. Moreover, large-scale irrigation projects are located mainly in sub-areas 3T and 5T, e.g., Ubon Ratana Dam, Sirindhorn Dam and Lam Pao Dam. In sub-areas 2T and 9T, most of the projects are of small- to medium-scale with a limited storage capacity. Others are electrical pumping stations that do not have structures for storing water. Problems relating to irrigation in Thailand include lacking of a unity in water management work which normally performed by many government departments and agencies, particularly before the implementation of bureaucratic reform. Others problems are the free access to and the lack of effective allocation measure for water. These have resulted in uneconomic, ineffective and unjust water utilization, leading eventually to the problems of conflict and competition among water users. Additionally, there are such problems as the lack of damand-side-management measures, limited knowledge on the basin s ecology, unavailability of appropriate management pattern and no participation of the water users. Relevant policies to help solve the problems include establishment of a unified water management system, enactment of law and improvement of regulations related to water resource, public/people s participation in water management, decentralization of authority from the Central to regions through the establishment of so-called river basin committee (RBC). Certain roles of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), for example, would be delegated to local authorities. Other supplementary measures include public relations activities, involvement of private sector in doing operation and maintenance work, collection of fees to cover recurrent cost and/or application of cost-sharing principle for constructing irrigation systems. In the Basin s part of Thailand, still there are more than 600 potential irrigation projects that may be implemented, with some 1.4 million rai of irrigation areas comprising the following: In SA-2T, a total of 21 projects with potential irrigation area of 0.41 million rai; In SA-3T, some 290 projects with potential irrigation area of 1.67 million rai; In SA 5T-1, some 143 projects with potential irrigation area of 1.00 million rai; In SA 5T-2, 184 projects with potential irrigation area of 1.44 million rai; and In SA-9T, 5 projects with potential irrigation area of 0.07 million rai; For sub-areas 3T and 5T, there is an important potential project named Kong- Chi-Mun the study of which was carried out in It is a large-scale project with an estimated total cost of more than Baht 18,100 million and expected to irrigate some (2) million rai. The project, however, involves diversion of water from the Mekong. Mekhong / X-SR 6

9 3) Water Supply for Domestic Uses In quantitative terms, the demand for water for domestic uses comprising home consumption and industrial use, represents the 2 nd largest of all. However, it was only recently that MRC has taken this into consideration under the BDP context. Apart from an effort to meet the demand, development of water for domestic uses could contribute to improvement of quality of life of the people living within the basin and enhance sustainable development in the longer term. Agencies that are responsible for developing water for domestic uses include the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA), Municipality Waterworks, Tambon (Village) Administration Authority, Village Waterworks under the Ministry of Public Health, etc. Some 90% of the resource used for this purpose comes from surface water; the rest is from underground one. PWA is considered the main agency. As a policy, it places an emphasis on quality of the water, following the standards established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Its target is to make waterworks available to rural areas at the rate of 400 villages a year. Priority is to be given to projects where the people are most suffered with shortage of water for home consumption. PWA has also a target to increase its service areas of potable water for at least 10 places a year. By 2023, it is expected that all the service areas will be able to provide potable water from tab. Currently, in the Basin s part of Thailand, the amount of domestic water supply is estimated at 868,000 m 3 per day or, 317 MCM per year (exclusive of data of SA-9T). Number of users is 1.98 million, within the service area of 2,364 km 2. An average water consumption per household is 438 litres/day. Regarding water for industrial uses, primary data indicates that some 645 plants are using water provided by waterworks, with the total amount of 51 MCM/year. Therefore, it may be said that water supply for domestic uses within the basin is not high although, it has a good potential to increase. 4) Hydropower Hydropower is one of the most important energy sources of the country, because it utilizes cheap and renewable resource. Development of hydropower within the Basin s part in Thailand has a long history and still, there is a possibility of expansion particularly on the basis of a joint cooperation with other MRC member countries. Under the Context of the Mekong Committee ( ) and the MRC (1995-present), Thailand has been promoting studies of potential hydropower development within the Mekong River Basin. A large number of potential projects has already been studied and developed. Several others are still have to be studied further, although the chance for such the development become limited, due to the exhaust of appropriate development sites for large-scale dam construction and opposition of NGOs, domestically and internationally, against construction of dams. Apart from water, Thailand has been trying to diversify the sources of energy resource, such as, oil, coal and natural gas. Moreover, she has adopted a policy of purchasing or exchanging electricity with her neighboring countries within the Greater Mekong Sub-region by means of a comprehensive international transmission lines. Mekhong / X-SR 7

10 The key agencies responsible for hydropower development in Thailand include Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the Department of Alternative Energy Promotion and Energy Conservation, the Provincial Electricity Authority, the Royal Irrigation Department, etc. Up to the present, some 1,022 units of hydropower related projects have already been developed in the Basin s part of Thailand. Of these, 12 projects have been installed with electricity generators, with a combined capacity of 241 MW. This constitutes about 8% of all the hydropower plants capacity (2,939 MW) but, just 1% of the total power generating capacity of the country (25,638 MW). Taking power demand in sub-areas 3T and 5T as an example, the peak demand is estimated at 2,006 MW or 7.8% of the total country demand (figure of May 2003), while the total energy consumption is 10,387 million units per year, or 8.9% of the country. This means that on the average, per capita power demand of the people in the basin is only kw, with an average energy consumption of 472 kwh/head/year. These figures represent only 31% and 25%, respectively of the national averages. Forecasting figures for the power demand and power consumption of the people in the Basin s area of Thailand in the next 10 year are 2,717 MW and 19,886 million units, respectively. Possible ways and means to meet these demands could include the following: Improvement of the existing hydropower plants at, for example, Nam Phung Dam, Ubon Ratana Dam, Sirindhorn Dam and Chulaphorn Dam (work plan for ); Installation of power generators at some of the existing and potential dams of RID, e.g., at the Lam Pao Dam, Kalasin province; Recycling the use of energy which is more friendly to environment and economic, saving an outflow of foreign currency. Potential projects include the Nam Man-Nam San and Kok-Ing-Yom-Nan; Purchase of electricity from neighboring countries, such as, Lao PDR (Xeset project, Theun-Hinboun project, Houei Ho project, Hongsa-Lignite project, Xe Pien-Xe Nam Noi project and Xe Kaman project) and China (Jing Hong project). 5) Flood Management The Mekong River Basin is subject to frequent flooding. Within the Basin s part of Thailand and particularly in the wet season, the rising water level of the Mekong river often overtops the river banks in Nong Khai, Nakhon Phnom and Mukdahan provinces. Sub-basins where flood occurs frequently are Nam Song-khram and Nam Kam sub-basins, due to their topographical locations which are relatively low and, lack of effective protection schemes and measures. Currently, Flood Mitigation and Management constitutes another key Programme of the MRC, comprising various new components in addition to the flood forecasting which has been implemented continuously in the past. Important policy related to flood and following the resolution of the Cabinet of 31 October 2000 stipulated that the plans for mitigating flood and drought problems should be formulated for areas. Flood forecast, flood mitigation methods and restoration of flood damage should be implemented effectively and justly, taking fully into account the land-use and natural resources involved. Mekhong / X-SR 8

11 In addition, there is a set of policies of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment that influences either directly or indirectly flood mitigation activities in the country. They include the policy for reserving, developing and conserving natural resources and the one for resource utilization to meet the various demands to the maximum potentials while sustaining the benefits. In sub-areas 2T, about 42% of the Kok basin is subject to moderate flood while 13% of the Ing basin, particularly in the lower parts of Ing and Chan rivers, is subject to severe flooding. In the middle and lower parts of sub-areas 3T and 5T, constituting some 4/5 of the total area, they are fertile lands suitable for agriculture but, are subject to frequent flooding. Raising the 1978 flood as an example, some 4,296 km 2 of the Chi basin were flooded and the damage was as high as Baht 1,795 million. Along both banks of the Mun river particularly the stretch of about 150-km long between Phibun Mangsahan and Rasi- Salai Districts, flooding of about 0.5 m. high will occur in 2 years return period and of about 2.0 m. occurs in 25 years return period. In the Chi basin, apart from Ubon Ratana and Lam Pao Dams that function as an effective flood mitigation measure, other flood protection measures for agricultural lands include construction of earth-dikes under the contexts of Nong Wai-Nam Phong project, Lam Pao project, Thung Saeng-Badan project and Ban Tum-Ban Tew project. The dike is about 300 kms long but, will be effective only for protecting 10-year flood. For the Mun basin, although several dams (such as, Lam Takhong Dam, Lam Phra Ploeng Dam, Upper Mun Dam, Lam Nang Rong Dam, Sirindhorn Dam and Pak Mun Dam) have already been built, they are basically for agriculture and not for flood protection purpose. In view of the fact that flood problems could be caused by both naturalgeographical factors and human acts: economic growth coupled with construction of infrastructures, expansion of urban areas, destruction of swamp/flood plains, forest and watershed areas, etc., flood protection/mitigation measures should therefore comprise of those of engineering and non-engineering structures. They include, for example, improvement of rule/operation curve for managing the existing reservoirs, installation of flood forecast system, construction of natural flood plains, excavation of culverts/diversion routes, expansion of waterways, construction of large-scale projects specifically for flood protection purpose, etc. Agencies responsible for flood problems include the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Royal Irrigation Department (RID). The DWR is a newly established organization that has recently initiated a so-called War-room Center aiming at gathering of relevant data/information, performing analyses and researches, making recommendations for mitigating and solving flood problems in the future. RID, since the past, involves in many flood protection schemes in the basin, e.g., Lam Nam Chi, Yang Nadi and Prong Khunphet dams in the Upper Chi Basin and, Nam Chern and Huai Prathao dams in Upper Nam Phong basin. Mekhong / X-SR 9

12 6) Fisheries Fisheries are important to both consumption-life of the people as well as economics of the country. Because fisheries are also important natural resources of the Mekong Basin that are shared and owned commonly by the riparian countries and peoples living within therein, development of fisheries constitutes one of the most important and key activities of MRC. National policies related to the development of fisheries ( ) include those for the development of fishermen and related institutions, a policy for managing fishery resources and environment, a policy for the development of fish culture and a policy for the development of fishery industries and business which emphazise people s participation in the management of fisheries that will eventually lead to a sustainable development in this sector. Apart from the Department of Fisheries, there are several other responsible agencies, e.g., the Royal Forest Department which is responsible for forest areas including the mangrove necessary for spawning and raising young fish/fingerings, the Department of River-borne and Maritime Transportation which is responsible for registering fishing boats, RID and EGAT which play important roles in managing fisheries in both the reservoirs and rivers, DWR which is responsible for overall management and allocation of water, the Pollution Control Department which is responsible for protecting and solving the problems related to water pollution caused by such things as urban growth, industries and untreated polluted water from agriculture. For the Basin s part within Thailand, fresh water fish represent the most important protein source of food for the local people. The data of 2000 indicated that fishery products from natural water bodies and aquaculture in that year was about 153,798 tons, making an average of 6.18 kgs/head/year. Figure from another research indicated however that per capita fish consumption of the people in the sub-areas 3T and 5T was as high as 33.8 kgs/year. This evidently means that the Basin s part of Thailand has to import a rather large quantity of fisheries products for consumption purpose every year. Important fish resources and culture in the basin, especially in the sub-areas 3T and 5T, include both public water bodies and fish farms. Data on fish culture indicated the figure of about 47,928.9 ton/year, with an annual increasing rate of 12% ( ). In northeast Thailand, there are 20 Fish Research and Development Centers and Freshwater Fish Stations. These Centers/Stations produces on the average of million fingerings a year for releasing in to public and natural water bodies. There are many important factors that cause problems and threat to the wellbeing of fishery resources, e.g., waste from industries which tend to reduce the quantity of solute oxygen, salinity water caused by underground salt, dam construction which obstruct fish migration, out-law fishing or the use of too powerful fishing-gear to destroy fish, cross-breeding of imported/alien fish species, etc. To increase fishery resources enough for meeting the future demand, several measures for solving the above-mentioned problems are necessary. These may include rehabilitation of water resources, the release of more fingering to public water bodies, setting up of conservation areas for flora and fauna, restricted areas for fisheries, etc. Mekhong / X-SR 10

13 Important work related to the Fisheries Sector of MRC with which Thailand is involving is the joint research under the project so-called Management of Fisheries Resources in Reservoirs. The research focused primarily on social and economic aspects of fisheries in reservoir areas within the Mekong River Basin. It helped to facilitate understanding and better insight about the resources and especially fishing, as an occupation of people living in the areas. Current activities of the project include testing of a process for management of fisheries resources in small-scale reservoirs, in the form of co-management which could be very useful but, requires still more researches. 7) Navigation Water-borne transportation on the Mekong and in particular, the Mekong tributaries in Thailand has rapidly lost its importance due to the relatively fast development of road and highway networks in the country. Nevertheless, the use of the Mekong by Thailand and her neighboring MRC member countries for transportation of goods and tourism (river-based tourism) purposes is still significant. National policies related to the river-borne transportation/navigation on the Mekong river include the development of maritime/trading system to support export business of the country by means of, for example, the development of commercial fleets and strengthening of related industries, construction and management of harbors and deep seaports and cooperation in the establishment of communication and transportation networks and safety measures for inland navigation that link to her neighboring countries. Practical work include the development of potential river ports, promotion the full use of existing ports, dredging and maintaining the river channels for all-year-round navigation purpose, etc. Participation of private sector in doing relevant investments has been encouraged. Additionally, there has been some campaigns for the use of new equipment and technology for controlling/managing traffic in the rivers and for other work relating to safety measures. During the present FYP, there is another important policy belongs to the Department of Water-borne Transportation and Maritime. It relates to the planning for beneficial use of water-borne and maritime systems under the framework of the Master Plan, Ministry of Transport and Communications ( ) and the Multi-modal Transport Development Plan which aim at enhancing an efficiency of transportation system of the country, promoting and supporting water-borne and maritime transportation, producing adequately human resources of quality and, improving the related rules, regulations and management system to meet the international standards. Regarding the water-borne transportation on the Mekong River, the so-called Agreement on Navigation on the Lancang-Mekong of April 2000 should be noted. Currently, Thailand still has many river ports and ferries operating on the Mekong River. Of these, the Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong river-ports in SA-2T are considered most important and still very active at the present days. Others are small ports in sub-areas 3T and 5T, being used for transporting goods and passengers across the River. They include 3 ports each in Loei and Nong Khai provinces, 4 in Nakhon Phnom and 2 in Mukdahan. Mekhong / X-SR 11

14 Important problems related to water-borne transportation are bank erosion caused by nature or human act (e.g., sand dredging, construction of buildings in the river, etc.) and sedimentation which make river channels shallow. Long-term development in this particular Sector of Thailand concentrates mainly on the improvement of the aforesaid river-ports at Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong, to meet the increasing demand for transporting goods and tourism on the Mekong. Others include small-scale development and construction of bank protection work, particularly in the areas where problems are most acute to the people s and public properties. 8) Tourism Tourism has become one of the most important economic sectors of Thailand. Compared to revenue from other export-goods, tourism can generate income and bring in the largest amount of foreign currency to the country, contributing to stabilization of balance of payment and solving many critical problems of the country. However, activities related tourism are least developed in the context of MRC work, which concentrate principally on the river-based and eco-tourism. Role of the MRC in this particular sector is therefore still very limited and, needs to be performed in conjunction with other development sectors, such as, navigation, conservation of river ecology, environmental protection, etc. In Thailand, promotion of tourism is under the direct responsibility of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). TAT has a great deal of activities that require cooperation from various parties, including local people and entrepreneurs in the private sector. Similarly, in respect to promotion of tourism in the Mekong River Basin, TAT has to work in collaborations with all the Mekong riparian countries, institutions and international organizations in the Region, such as, MRC and the Asian Development Bank (under the scope of ADB-GMS). National policy and plan for reflect a strategy for the development of tourism sector in the long-term perspectives. These include the expansion of touristic area to cover a wider Region with Thailand as the center of the network, the shifting of emphasis from quantity to quality, the increase in management roles of local institutions, the importance being placed on the development and rehabilitation of natural resources, etc. Regarding the Mekong Region, TAT has also specific strategies and measures for its development. They include enhancement of the potential for new touristic sites, management of tourism by means of participatory approach, provision of support to help strengthening capacity of neighboring countries, making Thailand as a gateway to Indochina, etc. Recently, six countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region comprising Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to jointly develop tourism in the Mekong River Basin aiming at a sustainable benefit, reduction of development cost, a full satisfaction of tourists and, an increase in capacity for competition in the market which in the future, is to become a single tourism market, with the Mekong River as a selling point. Thailand has a clear role of being a gateway to Mekhong / X-SR 12

15 the Region. Other countries have also been constructing various infrastructures that make a network linking to the Mekong, such as following: A project for improvement of navigation in the upper Mekong basin, between Yunnan-Luang Phrabang, with the total stretch of 930 kms; and A project for the improvement of navigation in southern Lao Cambodia. Important routes of trans-boundary nature for tourism in the Greater Mekong Sub-region that related to Thailand and, are of high potential for the development include the following six (6) stretches of the Mekong River: A stretch between Chiang Saen and Jing Hong A stretch between Chiang Khong and Luang Phrabang; A stretch between Chiang Khan and Sang Khom; A stretch between the Friendship Bridge and Beung Kan; A stretch between Nakhon Phnom and Mukdahan; and A stretch between Khong Chiam Khone Fall and Stung Treng. Because these stretches of the Mekong River are of trans-boundary nature, it is desirable that the development thereof should be carried out in a participatory manner, involving stakeholders from within and other countries for the optimum benefit and efficiency of work. An Analysis of Cross Cutting Issues 1) Cross Sectoral Issues A development project, in whatever sector, could have implication and/or impact on life of the people, socially, economically and environmentally. Furthermore, development of a project in one particular sector could always generate both positive and negative impacts to the others in different sector(s). Magnitude of the impacts will depend on type and/or size of the project being implemented. Therefore, when identifying a new project, one should consider adequately and sufficiently, these possible impacts and outcome of its implementation. Table below illustrates the relationship and possible impacts from a development project in one sector (listed in column) to other(s) and of different sectors (listed in row). Sector Watershed Watershed Management Irrigation/ Irrigated Agri. Water Supply Hydropower Flood Management Fisheries Navigation Tourism 1 Management Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Irrigation/Irrigated 2 Agri. Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο 3 Water Supply Ο Ο Ο Ο 4 Hydropower Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο 5 Flood Management Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο 6 Fisheries Ο Ο 7 Navigation Ο Ο 8 Tourism Ο Ο Ο Mekhong / X-SR 13

16 2) Cross Cutting Issues Within the context of water resources development, social, economic and environmental problems represent the core group of issues that shared commonly by all concerned. These issues could be of domestic nature, reflecting policies, either totally or partially, at the national or local level of a country. Some issues could be of transboundary nature, involving or shared by two countries or more. The latter group may be found more often when discussing aspects that related to the environment and/or sustainable development. A water resources development project, apart from generating positive aspects in accordance with the project's objectives, could cause a change to the water, quantitatively and qualitatively, and water related resources such as soils, fish and forest in the project area. As an example, construction of a reservoir or weir for irrigation, hydropower, flood protection, water supply, navigation, etc., could cause a change in flow pattern as well as flow quantity which, consequently, will lead to ecological changes affecting quality of both surface and underground water. Part of the problems could be those which occurred afterward, e.g., salinity soils caused by irrigation practices, water pollution caused by residue from fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, organic substance from urban areas, oil-spills from engine-boats, etc. What need to be considered are: The allowable level of problems that could be absorbed against the benefits gained; Measures that could be employed for solving the problems; and The possibility of solving or mitigating the problems. A development project could cause a change in quality of soils too. Examples are new agricultural practices, development that led to destruction of forest area which will eventually cause erosion and subsequently, sedimentation in the rivers/streams. Similarly, some development activities could cause the change in forest ecology, i.e., both the forest area and wide-life could largely be destroyed. In social and economic terms, implementation of water resources development projects including activities related to water use, such as, irrigated agriculture, fisheries, navigation and river-based tourism, could create job opportunity and generate income to the local people. It can be a part of community development work that could help to solve such social problem as labor migration and others. By so doing, the people could benefit from the project and enjoy a better quality of life in accordance with the general project s objectives. Nevertheless and as stated, the same project could cause negative impacts and outcome to both the ecology and people downstream. In practice, therefore, this aspect of possible negative impacts to the people living outside the direct beneficiary area should be taken into account during the course of study. Possible remedial measures could include establishment of water users organization, setting up water rights, good governance in water management and others. Mekhong / X-SR 14

17 The current FYP has set a development policy that determine a joint task of people in the country in three principal areas, namely, 1) eradication of poverty, 2) strengthening of social infrastructure and people's well-being and 3), economic restructuring for self-reliance and external competition. Development projects in the 8 sectors within the BDP context will help contribute to the success of this policy insofar as negative impacts are adequately addressed and managed at the same time. 3) Trans-boundary Issues As mentioned, issues related to the environment and sustainable development often constitute a key group of problems of trans-boundary nature as they normally are the problems between areas", e.g. between upstream and downstream ones, specifically between two or more countries. Related development sectors include those that consist of projects of large-scale nature and directly, are pertinent to a large demand of water from the Mekong River or its tributaries, e.g. irrigated agriculture, water supplies for consumption and industry, hydropower, navigation, etc. The following are sample projects in various sectors of Thailand which may involve trans-boundary issues and require a comprehensive study prior to implementation. Kong-Chi-Mun Project Kok-Ing-Nan Project Nam Kam Project Nam Songkhram Project Water Diversion by Pipeline Project Kong Diversion Project by Provincial Waterworks Authority Extended Work Relating to Improvement of Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong River-Ports Project Of these projects and to a certain extent, feasibility study and environmental impact assessment for some projects have already been carried out. However, the data used could be limited and some may be not up-to-date. Furthermore, the studies could have not been well integrated. Therefore, they should be further reviewed and updated. The key issues that should be studied in detail are the development outcomes in the following two (2) aspects. 1) River flow and change in flow regime or reduced flow quantity, especially in the dry season, which may adversely affect agriculture, navigation, fishery, etc. 2) Water quality and change in aquatic ecology that may have negative impacts on fishery, water for consumption downstream, tourism, etc. If development projects of different sectors are formulated and considered in an integrated manner with an adequate participation of key stakeholders, there will be a possibility that implementation of a project of one sector could increase development potentials of other projects/sectors too, i.e., diversified benefits with added value to all the related projects. Simultaneously, probable adverse impacts on natural resources and environment within the basin, between basins and/or between countries (cross-border) Mekhong / X-SR 15

18 can be addressed and guidelines or preventive/mitigation measures recommended in advance and adequately. 4) Guidelines for New Project/Activity In addition to the discussed sectoral and cross cutting issues, one should take the following into consideration when identifying and/or formulating new projects under the BDP framework: The areas to be developed should be those with severe or critical problems that need to be tackled urgently; Project sites being developed should not be those under natural resources conservation schemes, e.g., land-class of 1A category which is conserved watershed or wildlife sanctuary; The areas being developed should not create severe negative economic, social, environmental and political impacts upon the project area itself, nearby vicinity or, downstream areas; In the case of projects with possible adverse environmental, economic and social impacts, monitoring and evaluation measures as well as preventive/mitigation plan should be put in place; Stakeholders' participation should be promoted from the conception of the project to the implementation phase; and The basin s area being developed should receive adequate benefits and economic return and over the investment. Mekhong / X-SR 16