Rasi Salai Dam, located in the Northeast region of Thailand on the Mun River, is part of the Khong-Chi-Mun Project (KCM) scheme, a large-scale irrigation scheme planned for Northeast Thailand (also known as the Isaan region) by the Thai government. The project was commissioned in 1989, construction began in 1992, and was completed in 1994 as a 17-meter high concrete dam with a large reservoir. Original plans were for the dam to provide irrigation to approximately 5,500 hectares; however, the second estimate suggested that only 1,600 ha of land would be irrigated. Unfortunately, the canals were never completed thus rendering the dam useless. The dam was originally estimated to cost US$4.32 million (140 million Baht), but actual costs were far over budget costing US$26.7 million (871 million Baht – nearly six times the planned amount). Many controversies have surrounded the Rasi Salai dam. In 1989 when the government approved the dam for construction an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not prepared, despite national requirements to do so; nor was there village consultation. In 2000 the Department of Energy Development and Promotion (DEDP) agreed to carry out a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) that was completed in 2010. Also, as of 2010, the EIA had been started but was not yet completed. The inundated area was previously an area abundant with rich soils for rice cultivation and wetland forest that provided villagers with other livelihood opportunities. Affected people are still lacking fair compensation and losses have never been officially assessed or acknowledged. Compensation was paid in three separate rounds beginning in 1996 where 1,154 households out of over 3000 were compensated at a rate of 32,000 Baht per rai of land. Subsequent rounds of compensation vary in the amount of compensation provided and the number of households eligible. However, approximately half of the affected villagers have either received insufficient or no compensation. Over the course of the project, villagers were repeatedly excluded from the decision-making process and access to information was denied, especially in the final stages of construction. Besides the loss of approximately 15 fish species and river and wetland diversity, the Rasi Salai Reservoir sits on top of a large underground rock salt deposit. This has resulted in water seeping down to the underground salt domes and drawing salt back up into the reservoir thus increasing salinity and decreasing the productivity of irrigation as crops are exposed to salted water. (1) (3) (4) (8) (9) (10) (12) (13) (14) |
| Name of conflict: | Rasi Salai Dam, Thailand |
| Country: | Thailand |
| State or province: | Si Sa Ket Province |
| Location of conflict: | Rasi Salai District |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Water Management |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Plantation conflicts (incl. Pulp Land acquisition conflicts Dams and water distribution conflicts Aquaculture and fisheries |
| Specific commodities: | Land Water |
| Project details | Irrigation capacity of 1,600 ha (but was not realized) |
| Project area: | 10,000 |
| Level of Investment: | USD$ 26,300,000 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 15,000-17,000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 01/07/1997 |
| Relevant government actors: | Ministry of Environment, Technology and Science , RID (Royal Irrigation Department), DEDP (Department of Energy Development and Promotion) |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | International Rivers, AoP (Assembly of the Poor), TFCG (Tam Forest Conservation Group) |
| Intensity | HIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...) |
| Reaction stage | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Local ejos Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Local scientists/professionals Fisher people |
| Forms of mobilization: | Blockades Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Development of alternative proposals Involvement of national and international NGOs Land occupation Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Sabotage Street protest/marches Occupation of buildings/public spaces |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Floods (river, coastal, mudflow), Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Soil erosion, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover Potential: Desertification/Drought, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Malnutrition, Deaths |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Militarization and increased police presence |
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Migration/displacement |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | The dam is seen as an overall failure for many reasons. The required EIA for the project was not completed and the reservoir sits on top of a large underground salt dome, which results in water too salty for irrigation use. The salination of the reservoir meant the dam’s irrigation canals were never built and the second proposal that 1,600 ha would be irrigated was also not successfully completed. People have seen major losses in livelihoods, which have yet to be recognized officially. Prior to construction, no information of the projects design or impending impacts were released to the public (3) (12) (13) (14). |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Links to general newspaper articles, blogs or other websites |
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| Contributor: | Carl Middleton, Sarah Allen, Matilde Sgotto |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |