Development Looms over Vientiane's Wetlands:

A Japanese company has proposed a sustainable development project in Vientiane's wetlands including That Luang Marsh, but critics wonder what constitutes "sustainable" and claim the wetlands serve as a natural barrier against flooding, according to a TTR Weekly report.

The Vientiane Times stated that the government must approve the plan, which covers five zones over an area of 2,200 hectares, most of which is wetlands.

According to TTR Weekly, the 20-square-kilometer That Luang Marsh is the capital's largest remaining wetlands, and is part of the That Luang Basin, which collects water that drains from Vientiane City and surrounding areas.

The marsh prevents flooding in Vientiane via natural channels and drainage, and the environmental lobby is likely to campaign against the proposal, claiming it will further damage the capital's environment.

A commercial zone is planned in the vicinity of That Luang stupa, one of Laos' most revered religious sites and a popular tourist attraction.

A six-lane highway will run through the wetlands between the 450 Year Road and the Phonthan T-junction to the villages of Nonvay and Nakhuay.

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