PHNOM PENH —
The Cambodian government on Thursday reiterated calls for Laos to reconsider the construction of a dam on the Mekong River that could have serious ecological and economic impacts on people living downstream.
Environmental groups worry that the Don Sahong dam, to be built just upstream from Cambodia, could devastate fisheries that provide a major source of food for Cambodians living along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers.
Concerned parties met at a conference in Phnom Penh Thursday to discuss the dam.
Te Navuth, head of the government’s National Mekong Committee, told the workshop that an environmental assessment done by Laos is unclear on how fish would migrate, and so more studies are needed.
The results of Thursday's discussions will be sent officially to the National Mekong Committee for consideration, said Tek Vannara, head of the NGO Forum, a consortium of nongovernmental organizations.
Local communities and civil organizations continue to express concerns about the project, including the conduct of its environmental impact studies.
Environmental groups worry that the Don Sahong dam, to be built just upstream from Cambodia, could devastate fisheries that provide a major source of food for Cambodians living along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers.
Concerned parties met at a conference in Phnom Penh Thursday to discuss the dam.
Te Navuth, head of the government’s National Mekong Committee, told the workshop that an environmental assessment done by Laos is unclear on how fish would migrate, and so more studies are needed.
The results of Thursday's discussions will be sent officially to the National Mekong Committee for consideration, said Tek Vannara, head of the NGO Forum, a consortium of nongovernmental organizations.
Local communities and civil organizations continue to express concerns about the project, including the conduct of its environmental impact studies.
