Thailands's Deputy PM endorses massive plan to combat flooding and drought

BANGKOK (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has endorsed a government plan to address flooding and drought issues across the country.

The massive plan for water resource management consists of 63,589 projects that will require a total of 337.7 billion baht in funding to implement by 2024.

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The large-scale undertaking entails increasing reservoir capacity by 1.4 billion cubic meters to cover 6.23 million rai of land, which could benefit up to 5.64 million households and protect 5.37 million rai of residential and agricultural areas from severe flooding.

Officials said the funds would also be spent to ensure adequate water supplies for consumption and industrial production, combat flooding, and preserve and restore ecosystems that support water resources.

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The meeting also approved a project to improve the irrigation system on the eastern side of the lower Chao Phraya River from Ayutthaya to Samut Prakan province and on the western side of the same river from Ayutthaya to Samut Sakon province.

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