Thailand: Gov't proposes dam construction to block contaminants from mines in Myanmar
"Dam construction proposed to block arsenic pollution in the Kok River" Thai PBS, 22 May 2025
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has proposed the idea of constructing a dam across the Kok River, to block toxic contaminants, such as heavy metals discharged from unregulated Chinese-run mining operations in Shan state of Myanmar, from flowing downstream into Thai territory.
Other options include dredging of a 3km stretch of the Kok River in Muang district of Chiang Rai, to dispose of the contaminated sediments, and holding talks with Myanmar’s government, via the Regional Border Committee (RBC), scheduled to take place in Kengdung of Shan state from June 17th to the 20th [...].
The frequency of the testing of water and sediment samples from the Kok, Sai and Khong rivers, by the Pollution Control Department, have already been increased.
Associate Professor Lalita Hanwong, a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Science at Kasetsart University, has expressed doubt, however, that the talks via the RBC would help much, because Myanmar’s government lacks full control over Shan state, which is also under the influence of several ethnic armed groups, especially the United Wa State Army (UWSA), which has direct control over the mining operations by Chinese firms.