river all that sustained some 60000000000 people is dying the mekong is one of the world's largest river systems but by mid construction activity in the form of dams is slowly choking the river. 95000 kilometers long the river flows through 6 countries china vietnam was thailand and cambodia but along the way a network of dimes is interrupting its not for all some. are planned in addition to the ones already existing correspondent reports on the impact that choking the flow of water with its life giving nutrients is having. the color of the mekong river has changed from a murky brown to marine blue a fascinating motive for tourists in self-defense and a dry rainy season certainly was responsible for days but the root cause might be found upstream china has built 7 hydro power dams on the upper mekong and many more up planned laos recently completed to shut up or a dam on the lower may cause this is severely disrupting the water flow and it's at immense downstream. 60000000 people depend on the water and the nutrients of the mekong directly fishing and farming like this fisherman in a com

negotiate and try to manage the river in good governance manner it's interesting you mention the mekong river commission because it was set up precisely to monitor the river it's an intergovernmental body so are you basically saying the river commission exists in. yeah pretty much because the member country are only for downstream countries thailand laos cambodia and vietnam which are participate upstream countries like china and myanmar so making regarding power. not include all reparation governments and even though it a member. commission as process and agreements to manage the meco river in good manner anyway we have seen that we lost our plan for hydro power on the michael who has very much to rest not based on knowledge that produced by them accountable commission but more on political and financial benefits of some country are some sectors and some industries not for reverend communities as a whole. let's just talk about those communities were talking out of our gruffly 16000000 people who depend on the mekong in some way is there any plan of action to help them in any way if it if it

that water levels on the mekong river which flows through china and 5 other countries have dipped sharply at the china began testing equipment in one of the rivers up or downs and as florence reports from southeast cambodia the water levels there expect the drop by as much as 25 centimeters. ostroff has been fishing in the mekong river for more than 20 years just like his father did before him we mourn matai from all the used to be a lot more fish we only had to count down it and they'd be full we used to catch about $70.00 to $80.00 kilos each time but now there's hardly any. he says fish used to be abundant even in the dry season but not since the last couple of years he's also noticed more extreme fluctuations in water levels. there are 11 dams in the upper reaches of the mekong river in china environmental advocates say these have had an impact on the river and the life in that 70 percent in them they teach this that migrate 3. species meaning that then my quit. and downstream in vietnam all the way up to not and part of thailand so they depend lastly on the seasonal water level of th

now the water levels in one of asia's longest rivers the mekong have dipped sharp play off to china began testing equipment in one of the rivers up and downs the mekong flows through china but also 5 other countries including cambodia or levels are expected to plummet florence 3 reports now from cambodia has come pong champ province. hall stross has been fishing in the mekong river for more than 20 years just like his father did before him. from all the used to be a lot more fish we only had the castanets and they've been whole we used to catch about $70.00 to $80.00 kilos each time but now there's hardly any. he says fish used to be abundant even in the dry season but not since the last couple of years he's also noticed more extreme fluctuations in water levels there are 11 dams in the upper reaches of the mekong river in china environmental advocates say these have had an impact on the river and the life in that 70 person up them they teach. 3. species meaning that then my quit. and downstream in vietnam all the way up to not and part of thailand so they depend lastly on the seasonal wa

statement to say it's testing equipment in one of its dams increasing outflow by more than half the mekong river commission and into governmental organization warned countries in the lower reaches of the river including cambodia to expect lower water levels this week this season's drought has caused the water level in the mic to fall to its lowest in 60 years and that's been an exceptionally low flow of water in most parts of the river basin the 6 months. further from the. one that relies mostly on rice farming here people rely on water stored in horns during the dry season but even these have dried up. when there's no water there's lots of problems we have to spend a lot of money to drill a well an equipment small pump isn't good enough we have to get a bigger one it already spent double of what i normally would the mekong river commission and china have said they'll conduct a study to identify the causes and impacts of the season strout but with more dams being planned for the mekong its communities who rely on the river who continue to pay the price florence. province cambodia. they are on al

statement to say it's testing equipment in one of its dams increasing outflow by more than half the mekong river commission and into governmental organization warned countries in the lower reaches of the river including cambodia to expect lower water levels this week this season's drought has caused the water level in the mc to fall to its lowest in 60 years and there's been an exceptionally low flow of water in most parts of the river basin the 6 months. further from the. village one that relies mostly on rice farming here people rely on water stored in horn's during the dry season but even these have dried up. when there's no water there's lots of problems we have to spend a lot of money to drill a well an equipment small pump isn't good enough we have to get a bigger one it already spent double of what i normally would in the mekong river commission and china have said they'll conduct a study to identify the causes and impacts of the season strout but with more dams being planned for the mekong it's communities who rely on the river who continue to pay the price florence al-jazeera province c

there are 11 dams in the upper reaches of the mekong river in china environmental advocates say these have had an impact on the river and the life in that 70 person op them they teach this that micro 3. species meaning that then my quit. and downstream in vietnam all the way up to not and part of thailand so they depend lastly on the seasonal water level of the meco river that driven by day drought and flat sokol in early january china issued a statement to say its testing equipment in one of its dams increasing outflow by more than half the mekong river commission and into governmental organization warned countries in the lower reaches of the river including cambodia to expect lower water levels this week this season's drought has caused the water level in the mikol to fall to its lowest in 60 years and there's been an exceptionally low flow of water in most parts of the river basin the 6 months further from the me is another village one that relies mostly on rice farming here people rely on water stored in horn's during the dry season but even these have dried up. when there's no wa

downs over troubled waters rampant done construction is tilting the mekong river from the people.

thank the legendary mekong river old mother of waters is vietnam's main waterway. it nourishes the 6 countries through which it flows including laos which borders vietnam. after travelling 5000 kilometers from its source in the himalayas this is where the river vent sits right. over time it's carved out the cone fulls one of the widest waterfalls in the world . yet allow fisherman jump into the water without fear. are for me and before that you're right one mile before. oh it's very important card for proper care come get you if you are going to your didn't call our number but not god what if. some new knowing is 52. he says it's no coincidence he's never had an accident in 40 years. oh he got shot don't know if you need one but pull back outside that about what would be right out by a guy that had set up to be why we're here it would be at that by what those would do what. the full stretch over nearly 10 kilometers. allow call this region see found don't the full 1000 on. land just south from the fulls and countless waterways of the mekong. this is a familiar hunt

the color of the mekong river has changed from a murky brown to acquire marine blue a fascinating motive for tourists in self defense and a dry rainy season certainly was responsible for days but the root cause might be found upstream china has built 7 hydro power dams on the upper mekong and many more are planned now as recently completed to shut up or a dam on the lower may call. this is severely disrupting the water flow and it's had immense downstream. 60000000 people depend on the water and a new terrain safin may come directly from fishing and farming like just fishermen in a compound in thailand. the water level is too low and the climate is also changing the water is lower than in other years in the clear and shallow water there are far fewer fish coming up the river i only cuts 60 percent of what i used to catch. up in guy me. last year i could catch a lot of fish and sell them for 200 baht a kilo. now there's not much fish not even enough to pay for the fuel. so i have to grow vegetables and flowers to supplement our income how much is a. low water levels like now normally occu

dams over troubled waters rampant dumb construction at least choking the mekong river from the people paying the price.

fears grow about the spread of a new virus and china comes under fire as the water levels of the mekong river drop bringing hardships for those whose lives to.

in terms of mekong river issue, i'm not an expert or authority on that. but we had that the same controversy east side china because the dam building and also biodiversity conservation issue had been a major issue inside china. especially, in the conservation world. i'm not directly involved but i'm very sympathetic to that fight basically. we have that similar issue in china, too. we're trying to protect the waterway. try to prevent protect the biodiversity in water environment. and i'm very sympathetic to that issue. i think i think chinese government's open to debate, to discussion, and to international collaboration. but i'm not really authority to directly answer your question. the second is that from economic perspective, i think the the the shifting out of polluting industries seem to be pollution issue. and 20 years ago, we have very similar cry for that with u.s., with other developed country. because seemingly, you are cleaning up your environment. we're accepting all these polluting industries. and now, it seems to be vietnam vietnam is having