In addition to the already constructed Yali Falls dam, a cascade of dams are now being planned for the Sesan, Srepok, and Sekong Rivers in both Vietnam and Lao PDR.  Some of these dams are currently under construction and were planned without people’s participation nor adequate or complete Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.  Dam-affected communities have yet to receive mitigation or compensation for the impacts that they have suffered from Yali Falls dam despite communities’ best efforts to bring this issue to various responsible authorities including, governments, dam builders and stakeholders.

 

Given the trans-boundary nature and damaging effects of hydropower dams on the 3S Rivers and its communities, combined with the lack of a proper regulatory and legal framework that effectively balances power production with ecological and social needs, the policy and practice of constructing hydropower plants on Mekong tributaries should be reviewed.  Moreover, it should be done within the context of global best practices and state responsibilities under the Mekong River Commission’s ”1995 Agreement on Cooperation for Sustainable Development in the Mekong River Basin”.

 

3SPN’s role as a civil society organisation is to work closely with government, private sector and other stakeholders to provide feedback and ultimately reach a group consensus in order to ensure that best practice policies for environmental and social development are fully respected and implemented.