The exact dates of the spillway opening, and the Terms of Reference for the studies, have been delegated to a committee composed of a number of Thai academics. The committee was to make its recommendations as this issue went to press. From the outset, the project was highly controversial due to the predicted impacts on the rich and productive fisheries of the Mun River, the largest tributary of the Mekong River. As a direct result of the dam, more than 20,000 people have been affected by drastic reductions in fish populations upstream of the dam, and other changes to their livelihoods. Since 1999, villagers have been living in a makeshift protest village at the dam site, demanding that the dam gates be permanently opened and the river restored.
Villagers affected by the dam are cautiously optimistic about their prospects for the future.
Therefore, we are waiting to see if the government complies with the agreement and opens the dam gates for four months this rainy season. We hope that this will be the first step towards permanent opening of the dam gates and restoration of the Mun River. About 500 people are currently living there. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the owner and operator of the dam, has attacked the government's decision. In addition, EGAT claims that opening the dam gates will destroy the fish cages they have established in the reservoir.