Bangkok: The Senate's Environment Committee has urged the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) to amend the Mekong River Commission (MRC) treaty to include Myanmar and China. The committee believes that incorporating these countries into the treaty is crucial to collaboratively addressing the problem of toxic substances in the Mekong River, which originates from these regions.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chivaphap Chivaphatham, a member of the Senate and chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, highlighted the need for a collective approach during a recent committee meeting. The committee discussed the pollution issues affecting the Kok River, Sai River in Chiang Rai Province, and the Kra Buri River in Ranong Province. The pollution is reportedly linked to mining activities and poses a significant concern for Thailand's natural resources.
Mr. Chiwaphap emphasized that the contamination in these rivers, originating from gold mining and other related activities, necessitates a thorough forensic investigation. The committee has called upon the Pollution Control Department and other relevant agencies to provide detailed forensic information to understand the extent of the contamination and devise strategies to mitigate its impact.
The chairman pointed out that the existing MRC treaty, which includes Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, does not involve Myanmar and China, the key sources of the Mekong River. This omission, he argued, hampers efforts to address the pollution issue at its origin. He urged the ONWR to amend the treaty to include these nations, as the contamination in the Kok and Sai Rivers has been a persistent problem since last year.
Mr. Chiwaphap also questioned the effectiveness of building dams to contain toxic sediments, a current government initiative. He argued that this solution addresses only the symptoms of the problem rather than its root cause. He expressed skepticism about the efficacy of sediment traps and called for a more comprehensive approach to solving the issue at its source.
In conclusion, Mr. Chiwaphap reiterated the need for international cooperation to tackle the pollution in the Mekong River. He criticized the lack of progress in organizing an MRC meeting to address the issue, highlighting the urgency of collaborative action to protect Thailand's natural resources from ongoing contamination.