twenty-eight environmental conversation groups are demanding that the irrigation department cancel its feasibility and environmental impact studies on a controversial water tunnel project as it is seen as threat to the ecology system of a world-famous wildlife refuge
the studies require blasting rocks and even clearing away lush forests in the srinakarin and pu toey national parks,which are close to the kha khaeng wildlife sanctuary,declared by the united nations education,scientific,and cultural organization as a world heritage site,the groups claimed.
they have also asked the budget bureau.which will grant a 40-million-baht fund for the studies, to cancle the payment to indirectly force the department to cancel its plan
it the project is completed,water from the dam would be diverted to the sakraekrang basin,which also includes most of the uthai thani and thachin basin .Mrs. rataya said the water diversion would reduce the amount of water in the mae klong river,which flows into gulf of Thailand in Samut Songkhram.The province needs a sufficient amount of water in the river to dilute the salt water form the sea.she said residents likely to be affected by the scheme were not being consulted about the project as the thai constitution's article 56 demands.this say that local communities must participate in the management,maintenance,preservation,and exploitation of natural resources.
the department of national parks,wildlife,and plants conservation says that the water tunnel is also a threat to the world heritage status of huay kha khaeng wildlife sanctuary.department chief damrong pidet had earlier said that the un committee on world heritage has started reviewing the world heritage status given to countries worldwide.he had no idea whether Thailand would be included on the list.
the cabinet's approval of the project studies was viewed by a Kanchanaburi environmental group as politically motivated,because the group believes it would help the present government win more vote in the central provinces.however,the government argues that the tunnel project will benefit the local economy as well as assuring the agricultural development of the country.Further,the project itself would bring needed employment benefits and economic opportunities for the local population.