Flood mitigation: 95 billion baht plan proposed for Bangkok
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has proposed a budget of 95 billion baht to the National Water Resources Committee (NWRC) to address flooding in Bangkok by improving the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River.
The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Narumon Pinyosinwat, explained that the initiative aims to tackle drought and flooding issues as part of a larger government project. However, financial constraints pose a challenge despite the availability of loans from institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, as the public debt to GDP ratio must not exceed 70%.
In light of these constraints, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) plans to construct water supply projects through public-private partnerships (PPP) to support regional development. Discussions are ongoing to finalise the details. Thanand Sutthisan, Deputy Director-General for Construction at the RID, stated that several irrigation projects have been affected due to contractors abandoning their work, impacting water management efforts. This necessitates urgent action to implement effective water management tools, including leveraging private sector investment in water distribution systems.
To address drought and flood challenges by 2025, the RID has prepared five projects for submission to the NWRC meeting scheduled for January 6. These projects will then be forwarded to the Cabinet for further consideration. Among the urgent projects proposed, the development of the lower eastern irrigation system of the Chao Phraya River is expected to alleviate flooding in Bangkok. This 95 billion baht project is planned to be executed over six years, from 2026 to 2031, and aims to redirect water away from the capital.
In addition to the Chao Phraya River project, four other projects are seeking extensions to their timelines. The first is the Si Song Rak Water Gate project in Loei province, originally planned for six years (2018 to 2023), now extended to 10 years (2018 to 2030) with an approved budget of 5 billion baht. The second project, aimed at flood mitigation in Nakhon Si Thammarat, also extends from six to 10 years within the same budget period, maintaining its original 9.58 billion baht budget.
The third project involves the Ban Kor Water Gate and distribution system in Sakon Nakhon, initially scheduled for five years (2019 to 2023), now extended to nine years (2019 to 2030) with a budget of 1.249 billion baht.
The Nam Phung Water Gate project, previously planned for five years (2019 to 2023), is also extended to nine years (2019 to 2030) with an approved budget of 2.1 billion baht.
These projects, particularly the Chao Phraya River improvement, are crucial in mitigating the risk of floods in Bangkok, ensuring effective water management, and supporting the development of the EEC. The collaboration between the government and private sector through PPP models is seen as a strategic move to achieve these objectives, with the ultimate goal of benefiting the public and the nation, reported KhaoSod.
“The projects aim to provide sustainable solutions to water management challenges, ensuring that the public and the nation benefit the most.”
Further discussions are needed to refine the terms and conditions for private investment in these crucial infrastructure projects.
