Resettlement work of Pak Mun Hydroelectric Project

ABSTRACΠ: The Pak Mun Hydroelectric Project is under construction by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) across the mouth of Hun river which flows into the Mekong river on the border between Thailand and Laos. The project is a run-of -river type comprising a regulating dam of 17 m high and a powerhouse of four 34 MW bulb turbine generating units. Development of this project is rather controversial. The reservoir upstream of the dam covers about 60 sq km of which about 52 sq km is the original riverine and 8 sq km is the inundated farmplots. There are 248 households who have to be resettled from the affected area. The Government of Thailand has set up two main committee comprising representatives from various concerned agencies to assist the affected villagers. The first is the committee for compensation of land rights and properties. The second is the committee for resettlement. There are many problems during performing the resettlement work. Some problems and solutions are mentioned in this article as case studies.