Controversial Laos dam launches along dried-out Mekong Drone images show dried-out river beds along the Mekong river as a $4.5 billion-dollar mega-dam launches its operations on Tuesday. The Thai-owned Xayaburi dam has been a lightning rod for criticism even before construction began in 2011, with environmentalists warning of devastating impacts on the Mekong river's fish species, sediment and water levels. IMAGES of dried-out Mekong river beds