The Mekong river which flows through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam is at a “worrying level” according to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) which was set up to monitor drops in the water level. The river is important for the economies of the countries along its length and provides transportation and food for 70 million people who live along its banks.
The MRC claimed that part of the reason for the low water levels was the lack of outflow from Chinese hydroelectric dams which the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has constructed upstream in the Tibetan highlands where the river begins. These interruptions of the water supply, along with low rainfall, have caused water levels to drop.
“There have been sudden rises and falls in water levels immediately downstream of Jinghong and further down to Vientiane,” said Winai Wongpimool, director of the MRC Secretariat’s Technical Support Division.
“To help the Lower Mekong countries manage risks more effectively, we call on China and the Lower Mekong countries themselves to share their water release plans with us,” Winai said.
Currently the PRC government does not always share information with countries downstream as to when it is going to release or hold back water in its upstream dams and so communities downstream can suddenly be hit by flash floods when the dams unexpectedly release water.
The PRC last year pledged to share data from its dams with MRC member countries Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
However, the MRC said levels dropped in February. The statement did not mention any recent notification from Beijing.