New reservoir on hold for tests

THALANG: Construction of Phuket’s new reservoir, which Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has agreed will be paid for by the central government, is to be delayed while tests are made of the site. The tests center on the quality of the soil at the spot in Thalang where the 300-million-baht Bang Neaw Dam is to be built as a solution to the island’s chronic shortage of water. No timetable has been set for construction but at a meeting on Monday, Irrigation Project Director Watchara Arepornsiri explained that the new reservoir would hold about 4 million cubic meters of water, across about 450 rai. The island now has reserves of only 4.8 million cubic meters – 2.3 million from the Bang Wad reservoir in Kathu and 2.5 million from 12 municipal water sources, mainly tin mine lagoons.