Pak Beng inquiry sought
Environment Ministry official Eang Sophalleth said on February 20 that he has made a request to the Mekong River Commission that Laos adequately investigate the potential impacts of the proposed Pak Beng hydropower dam ahead of a meeting this week. State news agency AKP on February 20 reported that Sophalleth’s request “urged a thorough look into environmental, economic and social impacts of the dam construction on the livelihood as well as agricultural practices of people living along the downstream of the Mekong River and linked Tonle Sap Lake”. Sophalleth clarified yesterday that the request was not made directly to Laos, but was simply “standard procedure”, and made in response to the MRC’s request for comment on the project from Cambodia.
