US Senate calls for delay of Mekong dams
As Mekong River Commission (MRC) countries prepare for a crucial meeting next week to debate Laos’ proposal to build the first Lower Mekong River dam, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has called for a delay of the controversial project. The US Senate’s concern was echoed yesterday in the form of a petition signed by more than 20,000 people that was submitted to the Lao Embassy in Bangkok calling for a postponement of the Xayaburi dam construction. The US Senate Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution by Senator Jim Webb, stating that the Committee “supports delay of the construction of mainstream hydropower dams along the Mekong River until the comprehensive environmental impact assessments have been completed and adequate planning and multilateral coordination has been achieved.”…
