PUBLISHED: 9 Oct 2024 at 06: 49
In order to cooperate more effectively with each other to solve the flood issues in the area, Thailand and Myanmar were scheduled to examine on Wednesday the possibility of destroying buildings that extend over the Mae Sai River.
A plan approved by the Thai government on Monday may be discussed at a conference of the Thai-Myanmar joint council on the Mae Sai and Nam Ruak rivers, according to Lt. Gen. Natthaphong Phraokaeo, the head of the Royal Thai Army’s Department of Border Affairs.
The Thai part states in the request that it believes the Mae Sai River really keep an average length of at least 30 meters to improve the flow of water and drastically reduce the risk of run-off overflowing the river banks, according to him.
He said a strong partnership is necessary to remove protruding structures from the river in order to accomplish this goal.
Lt. Gen Natthaphong stated,” The ultimate goal for 2025 is to prevent flooding that occurs as a result of Mae Sai overflowing.”
Lt. Gen. Natthaphong added that the Myanmar side had proposed that both sides remove structures that protruded into the Mae Sai and Nam Ruak rivers in 13 locations, with six on the Myanmar side and seven on the Thai side, in 2018.
He did point out that the proposal has not yet prompted any action.
Therefore, at Wednesday’s meeting, both sides aim to at least reach an agreement on concrete measures that will possibly help sustain their flood prevention efforts, curb the risk of an unexpected natural disaster, and mitigate its impact on both nations, he said.
A proposal for Thailand and Myanmar to develop a new joint operation plan for flood prevention in the long term, which should start with a new boundary survey and demarcation, he said, was also expected to be discussed at Wednesday’s joint committee meeting.
Thai authorities reportedly fought activity on the Myanmar side of the Mae Sai River on October 1 as thick muddy debris from flooding was being dumped into the river.
Myanmar authorities ordered the activity to be stopped after receiving an objection from the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee ( TBC ), and later explained that the event was being carried out by a private party who might not be familiar with the joint border rules and laws.
Additionally, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote a letter of opposition to its Myanmar counterpart regarding the unlawful dumping of mud into the river. The latter reaffirmed that the problem had already been resolved.