Water governance in multipurpose hydropower and irrigation schemes: Case study of the Nam Mang 3 Project in Lao PDR

The multipurpose Nam Mang 3 Hydropower Project is one of the trans-basin diversion schemes and one of the 18 hydropower dams in operation in Lao PDR. The multipurpose hydropower and irrigation project has caused a number of negative impacts for farmers especially in downstream areas and in the Nam Nyam and Houay Hong Pheng areas. This study aims to understand the water management regime between the project’s hydropower and irrigation purposes in order to find alternatives and to mitigate as much as possible the negative impacts downstream of the dam, especially for villages along the Nam Nyam valley or Napheng plain directly concerned water releases and benefit from irrigation. We used the key informant and focus group survey with various stakeholders of Nam Mang irrigation scheme and field work observation. The findings show that farmers can grow a second season of rice crop but the electricity generation in the rainy season leads to the flooding of rice fields along the Nam Nyam valley. Sometimes during dry season, farmers in the irrigated areas do not have enough water for irrigation of the rice crop downstream of the NM3 and Nam Nyam irrigation schemes, as the water is stored for generating electricity. This is exacerbated by the absence of coordination between the dam operator and TSC-NM3 office. Overall, the project has contributed to, rather than diminished, poverty of people and increase inequality in the area. The study recommends a review of the governance arrangements in the dam operations which at present are not transparent making it difficult to take into account the multiple benefits and costs to different stakeholders in the water diversion project. The operators of the dam and irrigation scheme have to establish a dialogue with the assistance of the development partners or government to find alternatives to mitigate the negative impacts in the downstream areas. Also there must be mechanisms in place for farmers whose livelihoods are affected.