Chulabhorn Dam
Encyclopedia
Chulabhorn Dam is a dam
in Tambon
Thung Lui Lai, Amphur Kon San, Chaiyaphum Province
, Thailand
. It impounds the Phrom River, a tributary of the Mekong
. The dam has diverted the Nam Phrong River. As water leaves its turbines, it empties into the Choen River. The dam is named after Princess Chulabhorn Walailak
, of Thailand
.
downstream, the Chulabhorn has not been without its share of controversies. These have principally been over the way in which water is allocated for irrigation vis-a-vis power generation; and over the diversion of water from the Nam Phong to the Choen River, depriving downstream communities along the Choen.
Downstream of the Chulabhorn Dam, along the Choen River, lie three districts: Kaset Sombun, Ban Thaen and Phu Khieo. The reduced flows of the Choen has caused villagers to come together and try to persuade EGAT
to increase the amount of water. This protest started in 1973, and has earned these villagers the title of the "water beggars of the Northeast".
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
in Tambon
Tambon
Tambon is a local government unit in Thailand. Below district and province , they form the third administrative subdivision level. As of the 2009 there are 7255 tambon, not including the 169 khwaeng of Bangkok, which are set at the same administrative level, thus every district contains 8-10 tambon...
Thung Lui Lai, Amphur Kon San, Chaiyaphum Province
Chaiyaphum Province
Chaiyaphum is one of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Lopburi and Phetchabun.- Etymology :...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It impounds the Phrom River, a tributary of the Mekong
Mekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
. The dam has diverted the Nam Phrong River. As water leaves its turbines, it empties into the Choen River. The dam is named after Princess Chulabhorn Walailak
Chulabhorn Walailak
Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand or Chulabhorn Walailak , born 4 July 1957 in Bangkok, is a Princess of Thailand, the youngest daughter of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and HM Queen Sirikit of Thailand...
, of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Description
Typical to Thai dams, the Chulabhorn Dam is an earth core rockfill dam. Its function is to generate electricity and to irrigate riparian agriculture. The dam is 700 m (2,296.6 ft) long and 70 m (229.7 ft) high. Its reservoir covers 31 square kilometre.Power House
The power house is located at the dam. The power house contains two turbines, each with a capacity of 20,000 KW. Total annual energy production is 59 Gwh.Controversies
Like the Pak Mun DamPak Mun dam
The Pak Mun Dam is a gravity dam located 5.5 km west of the confluence of the Mun and Mekong rivers in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand...
downstream, the Chulabhorn has not been without its share of controversies. These have principally been over the way in which water is allocated for irrigation vis-a-vis power generation; and over the diversion of water from the Nam Phong to the Choen River, depriving downstream communities along the Choen.
Downstream of the Chulabhorn Dam, along the Choen River, lie three districts: Kaset Sombun, Ban Thaen and Phu Khieo. The reduced flows of the Choen has caused villagers to come together and try to persuade EGAT
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand , , is a state enterprise that owns and manages the majority of Thailand's electricity generation capacity, as well as the nation's transmission network.EGAT is managed by the Ministry of Energy....
to increase the amount of water. This protest started in 1973, and has earned these villagers the title of the "water beggars of the Northeast".