Conservationists have raised concern that the state's 40 billion plan to divert water from the Salween River's tributaries into the Chao Phraya River is not economically viable and will be detrimental to the environment. The plan is to divert water from the Yuam and Ngao rivers, both tributaries of Salween River that demarcates the Thai and Myanmar border. Under the scheme, a 71-metre high dam would be built across the Yuam River and a power plant will also be built in Mae Sariang district. A water pump will be built to pump water up rivers through an underground tunnel. The electricity cost of the water pump alone is estimated at 2.4 billion baht annually.

Source: Bangkok Post February 26, 2018 00:22 UTC