Bt12 bn to fund weirs, reservoirs; dam scrapped
The Water Resources and Royal Irrigation departments will today ask for more than Bt12.41 billion to fund projects aimed at providing long-term solutions to flooding in the Yom and Nan river basins.
The Cabinet will review the budget requests at its meeting today.
Water Resources Department director-general Jatuporn Buruspat said his agency wants about Bt2.41 billion for 39 projects.
If fully implemented, the projects could ease flooding in the Yom and Nan river basins by as much as 80 per cent, he said.
"We can complete most of these projects within one year," he said.
The projects include the construction of a small reservoir in Sukhothai, another small reservoir in Lampang and two weirs in Phrae; and the conservation or rehabilitation of water sources in the Yom and Nan basins.
Areas in Phitsanulok, Phichit and Sukhothai - which are located in the Yom basin - have been flooded for more than one month now.
"The Royal Irrigation Department has included our proposed projects in its comprehensive plan to tackle flooding in the Yom and Nan basins," Jatuporn said.
The department had prepared 125 projects with a total budget of Bt10 billion for the Cabinet to review today, he said.
Chum Sa-iabking, chair of the Tambon Sa-iab Administrative Organisation in Phrae's Song district, said local residents were against the construction of all dams, not just the proposed Kaeng Sua Ten Dam.
"We think reservoirs are better alternatives," he said.
Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut yesterday confirmed that the Kaeng Sua Ten Dam plan would be scrapped and alternatives considered.
"We will opt for whichever irrigation system least affects people's homes and farms, and the forest," he said.
The nationwide flood-related death toll rose to 61 yesterday, as more than 400,000 people in 10 provinces continued to struggle with the inundation. Floods are believed to have damaged more than 3.3 million rai of farmland.
"Heavy downpours are forecast for many areas over the next few days, too. Flash floods and landslides could hit some areas in Nan, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Chanthaburi, Trat and Mae Hong Son," disaster mitigation directing centre director Panu Yeamsri said yesterday.
