A government strategy to deal with floods and drought crises around the country has been supported by Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan.
An estimated 337.7 billion baht would be needed to carry out all 63,589 projects in the water resource management master plan by the target year of 2024.
While chairing a meeting of government agencies tasked with carrying out the water management master plan and expanding access to water, the deputy prime minister granted his blessing.
The massive project will increase reservoir capacity by 1.4 billion cubic meters, allowing for the flooding protection of an additional 5.37 million rai of residential and agricultural land, and benefiting up to 5.64 million residents.
Officials stated that the money will also be used to prevent flooding, restore ecosystems that are essential to the sustainability of water supplies, and guarantee enough water supplies for human consumption and industrial output.
At the meeting, General Prawit gave orders to the Royal Irrigation Department and other connected state agencies to investigate potential risk factors so that the plan’s execution wouldn’t be slowed down and more funds wouldn’t be needed.
In addition, the summit gave the green light to a plan to upgrade irrigation infrastructure on both the eastern (from Ayutthaya to Samut Prakan province) and western (from Ayutthaya to Samut Sakon province) sides of the lower Chao Phraya River.
