Shallow Mekong River affects cargo boats

CHIANG RAI, June 15 (TNA) - The drying Mekong River at the Golden Triangle is blocking Chinese cargo boats from docking at Thailand's northern Chiang Saen port. Although recent heavy downpours have caused floods in several northern Thai areas, the section of the Mekong River from Chiang Saen to Wiang Kaen Districts of Chiang Rai Province is too shallow for Chinese cargo boats to dock at the Chiang Saen commercial port and the boats are to visit private-run ports in the Golden Triangle instead. Songklod Duanghakhlang, Chiang Rai's water transportation and maritime navigation chief, said on Friday that the problem has resulted from drought in China and the Chinese government has, thus, cut discharges at its dams in the Mekong River, and that he expects water transportation in the Mekong River to resume as usual approximately next month when downpours increase.(TNA)