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dam-l LS: Dam compensation given to rasi landowners

The most significant part of this article is in the last paragraph.

The Nation June 14, 2000

                     Dam compensation given to
                     landowners

                     THE Energy Development and Promotion
                     Department yesterday began distributing
                     compensation totalling more than Bt57 million
                     to 775 people affected by the construction of
                     the Rasi Salai Dam, said Deputy Science
                     Minister Pornthep Techapaiboon. 

                     Pornthep said 775 claims by landowners had
                     already been examined and approved by a
                     fact-finding committee, kamnans and village
                     headmen. 

                     Villagers who had lost land as a result of the
                     dam's construction could claim Bt32,000 per
                     rai of land they owned as recompense at Rasi
                     Slai district office, he said. 

                     More than 16,000 other people also affected by
                     the dam would receive compensation after their
                     claims had been validated. 

                     There were reportedly 17,083 claimants in Roi
                     Et, Si Sa Ket and Surin. 

                     He said the investigations would be fair and
                     transparent, and that each person affected
                     would receive help from the government. 

                     Pornthep said Science Minister Arthit Urairat
                     would invite representatives of each claimant
                     group to negotiations on June 30, with a view to
                     settle any outstanding conflict. 

                     He said claimants whose land had not been
                     directly flooded by the dam's construction might
                     not receive monetary compensation, but would
                     be given other forms of assistance. 

                     Pornthep said the government would be swift
                     and strong in tackling other potential problems,
                     such as protesters attempting to damage the
                     dam. 

                     Some protestors have allegedly removed
                     stones from the dam's embankment, leaving it
                     fragile. 

                     He said if there were heavy downpours, the
                     dam could break up and that would cause
                     massive damage. 

                     Pornthep said the dam's gates might have to
                     be opened if no other practical solution could
                     be found to people's complaints. 

                     The Nation 

                     LAST MODIFIED: Wednesday, 14-Jun-00
                     12:53:43 EDT 



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Aviva Imhof
South-East Asia Campaigner
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley CA 94703 USA
Tel: + 1 510 848 1155 (ext. 312), Fax: + 1 510 848 1008
Email: aviva@irn.org, Web: http://www.irn.org
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