Dam plans threaten China's migratory bird haven

13 Sept 13:00 Key points summarised by AI

Chinese authorities are reviving plans to dam Poyang Lake, the country's largest freshwater lake, citing a historic drought as the reason.
Environmentalists warn that damming Poyang Lake, a crucial winter stopover for over half a million migratory birds and home to endangered species like the Siberian crane and Yangtze finless porpoise, would devastate its fragile ecosystem.
The proposed sluice gate would sever the lake's natural connection to the Yangtze River, disrupting water flow, food chains, and migratory routes, potentially transforming it into a 'dead lake'.
Despite previous ecological complaints shelving the project, and China chairing UN biodiversity talks, the dam plan is being pushed forward, with critics questioning the rushed environmental impact assessment.

Government to start building Chainat-Pasak-Gulf water diversion canal next year

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.