Subsiding Moei River obstructs cargo transport across Thai-Myanmar border

TAK, THAILAND, March 18 (TNA) - The bed of the Moei River, which forms the borderline between Thailand’s northwestern Tak province and Myanmar’s Myawaddy province, has partly surfaced due to severe drought. Panchai Pankaew, an operator of the 2nd port terminal at the 5th warehouse in Baan Huay Muang Village of the Tha Sai Luad locality in Tak's Mae Sot district, told reporters on Monday that the Moei River has been drying fast this year, with a large number of cargoes having left stranded, and has delayed cargo transport between both neighbouring countries. Panchai said that exports from over 20 ports in the Tha Sai Luad locality cannot leave for Myawaddy, as the river is too shallow for cargo boats, and part of boat operators are turning to other occupations for the time being. The operator acknowledged that, as the Moei River is shallower, cargo transport may depend on porters, which will consume more time and double transport costs, and that some port operators have used pumps and laborers to dig deeper channels to facilitate cargo boats, which has also raised transport costs. Transport through the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge is, therefore, an option, but it is subject to more cross-border procedures. (TNA)