Irrigation department to discuss fair compensation to farmers for building reservoir in drought-hit Rayong
Officials from the Royal Irrigation Department will hold public hearings with locals of Khao Chamao district in Rayong province to discuss a fair compensation before construction of the Klong Phlo reservoir.
“The Klong Phlo reservoir will help solve the drought problem in Rayong that has been aggravating since 2019,” said Praphit Chanma, the department's deputy director-general. “However, the construction of the reservoir would inevitably affect the fruit plantations of farmers in three districts, namely Klaeng, Khao Chamao and Wangchan,” Praphit said.
“The public hearing session will discuss a fair compensation for land owners in the affected areas, as well as elaborate the benefits for villagers and farmers in Khao Chamao district from the reservoir in providing a water source during the dry season,” he added.
The Khlong Phlo reservoir will be a zone type dam 1,680 metres long and 17 metres high with capacity to hold 40 million cubic metres of water and can irrigate more than 30,000 rai (4,800 hectares) of farmlands in five subdistricts in Khao Chamao. Once complete, it would help prevent water shortage during the dry season, mitigate flood problem during monsoon, as well as serve as a tourist attraction. Construction is expected to start in 2022 and finish in 2024.