PHRAE, 21 August 2011- The latest survey by Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) has indicated that the construction of the Keang Suea Ten Dam is unable to help ease flood problems in the lower north as anticipated.
According to Asst. Prof. Dr. Anon Sanitwong na Ayutthaya, acting director of GISTDA, the satellite images have shown that the Kaeng Suea Ten Dam can store only 10 to 20 percent of floodwater due to the dam’s unfavorable location. Such an amount means the long suspended project does not help solve flood problems as the previous governments have believed.
The construction of the Kaeng Suea Ten Dam in Phrae province, which is aimed at solving flood and drought problems in the lower north, has been put on hold for decades amid protests by local residents and environmentalists who fear the project would bring about severe damage to the ecological system.
Calls for the Kangsuaten project have been revived following devastating floods in Sukhothai and Uttaradit provinces.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Anon said that deforestation and sedimentary deposits in the Yom River could have caused flooding.
