Thai villagers prefer energy-efficient policies

Hilltribe villagers who will be adversely affected by the planned construction of a series of dams on the Salween river have called on the government to scrap the projects and adopt their energy-efficient practices in developing a national energy policy.

Many hilltribe villages in this northern border province now enjoy similar luxuries to urban communities. The villagers, mostly ethnic Karen, watch satellite TV, listen to the radio and read books at night.
However, their electricity is limited to a maximum of six hours a day because the supply from a solar-cell powered generator has limited capacity.

The hours, however, are shorter on some days if there is not much sunlight.

However, when asked if they want more electricity supplied to their villages, they say no.

Somsri Krunae, the owner of a home-stay service at Tha Ta Fang village in the border district of Mae Sariang, says: “I don’t want the electricity to flow all day because it will destroy our traditional way of life. Electricity will bring clubs, bars, resorts and tourists to our peaceful village,” she said.

Tha Ta Fang villagers are hoping the government and the public will agree with them so they will not have to make a stand against plans to build the hydro-electric dams on the Salween river.

Tha Ta Fang village, with a population of about 600, is likely to be submerged if the Thai and Burmese governments give the go-ahead to the construction of the 792-megawatt Dagwin dam, one of six dams planned on the river.

The dam will also inundate more than 3,500 rai of pristine forest in the Salween National Park and forest reserve.

Bangkok Post