Thirty years after the Pak Mun dam used to be in-built Thailand, the standard means of fishing within the Khong Chiam district has utterly stopped because the dam blocks the seasonal migrations of a variety of fish.
Many males have needed to go away their properties to seek out paintings in different places as a result of they couldn’t fish or farm in the neighborhood anymore, whilst their other halves are continuously left by myself to seem after their youngsters. Other people with disabilities and the aged have now not been incorporated in reimbursement and livelihood rehabilitation programmes, even supposing they’re some of the teams maximum suffering from adjustments in mobility, get entry to to water and meals techniques.
My group and I’ve been documenting the knock-on results of this dam construction by way of sporting out interviews with other folks residing in those communities. My analysis highlights that if the environmental penalties of dam development have been higher predicted and monitored, a large number of the continued disruption will have been have shyed away from.
In 1982, a environmental have an effect on review for the Pak Mun dam used to be ready by way of a group of Thai engineering experts. Environmental have an effect on tests are used to spot, are expecting and overview the imaginable penalties of a proposed undertaking ahead of it starts. They’ve been in use for a few years, however some governments bypass their suggestions.
If finished extra carefully, this review for the Pak Mun dam will have expected those unfavorable social and environmental penalties and would possibly have influenced selections in regards to the development and upkeep of this dam. However consistent with analysis, this have an effect on review used to be vulnerable.
One find out about famous that the environmental affects of the dam – principally on fish – have been both unquantified or understated. Every other find out about famous that the web page location had moved and that required a brand new review somewhat than replying one the primary one. The bounds of this review has resulted in ongoing contestation between the central and provincial govt and the affected communities and activists.
That is a long way from the one instance of a loss of attention for the long-term knock-on results of dams on communities and nature. In 2025, the Indian govt allegedly fast-tracked the development of the large Sawalkot hydropower undertaking at the Chenab river with out undertaking any environmental and social have an effect on review.
Massive-scale tasks like this impact thousands and thousands of other folks and the surroundings round them. With out plentiful have an effect on tests, they continue with out organising simply what impact they’re going to have at the surrounding panorama, nature and communities. Because of this, any unfavorable penalties aren’t simply have shyed away from.
Whilst this new political dynamic of circumventing have an effect on tests is being concerned, social and environmental have an effect on tests are precious if used accurately. As a part of my analysis, I’ve spoken to dozens of have an effect on review experts and teachers to evaluate the established order.
Mapping the have an effect on of the dam with native communities.
Jeremy Allouche, Creator equipped (no reuse)
By way of 2033, the worldwide marketplace for environmental have an effect on tests may well be price an estimated US$5.8 billion (£4.3 billion). Whilst the have an effect on review procedure is observed as precious by way of experts and teachers, a few of our interviewees fearful that expensive suggestions continuously get misplaced within the strategy of undertaking implementation as soon as the report has been produced.
Preferably, have an effect on tests will have to be according to clinical wisdom and contain really extensive public participation and located neighborhood wisdom, particularly by way of those that are prone to hostile penalties, in addition to transparent duty mechanisms.
In apply, there are issues. Affect review is a political procedure; it isn’t primarily based purely on proof and clinical information. It’s influenced by way of the economics of dam development. Dams are continuously additionally necessary symbols of nationalism, in order that they dangle top political standing.
With out making sure systematic follow-up to an have an effect on review, it could actually merely turn into a paper chase to safe a construction allow. With extra attention, the “afterlife” of have an effect on tests may also be a lot more efficient.
Who’s accountable?
Who, on the subject of accountability, will have to be held in charge of shortcomings within the implementation of have an effect on review plans? Will have to or not it’s the federal government that are meant to be chargeable for ensuring the other laws and norms are adopted?
Will have to or not it’s the industrial banks, construction banks and bilateral donors (similar to international assist equipped by way of the United Kingdom govt’s International Commonwealth and Construction Place of job) that fund tasks who will have to observe the necessities that they had elaborated? Or will have to or not it’s the non-public sector?
My analysis displays that the obligations lie with all of those events.
In maximum nations, lots of the data and knowledge is managed by way of the proponents of establishing the dam. Undertaking managers and engineers is also suspicious of exterior have an effect on assessor experts, so they don’t at all times percentage the related data.
Civil society, starting from native marketing campaign teams and activist to non-governmental organisations, have driven for requirements and regulations that be certain regulations are adopted all over and after any have an effect on review. For this to paintings, have an effect on tests want to be dynamic so responses to imaginable converting penalties can trade.
When environmental coverage and equipment like have an effect on tests are being wondered, it’s much more necessary to create a coverage procedure that guarantees long-term duty for have an effect on tests and save you additional losses and damages to the communities and the surroundings.
