Thailand: Officials Aim to Solve Long-Term Flooding in Prachin Buri

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Water and Floods Management Committee Plodprasop Suraswadi has proposed a plan to build a reservoir to absorb water in 3 municipal areas in Prachin Buri Province as a long term solution to floods.

He stated that the current flood situation in the province was manageable, and that the flood water would recede within a week if there were no more rainfalls.

The Deputy Prime Minister admitted that the draining process was currently slow, explaining that the main hurdle was the province’s unorganized sewer plan. As a counter measure, Mr. Plodprasop proposed to dig a 50 kilometer long canal linking Srimahapho District to Bang Pakong River. The project is estimated to cost approximately 3 billion baht.

As a long term flood prevention measure, he proposed constructing a reservoir to absorb floodwater from the districts of Muang, Kabinburi and Srimahapho.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Royal Irrigation Department Lertwiroj Kowattana stated that more water will be discharged from Pasak Chonlasit Dam as more influx of water is expected from northern dams due to new depression.

The new influx would likely increase flood waters in Saraburi and Ayutthaya Provinces, especially in the vicinity of Rama VI Dam in Ayutthaya.

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Press Release, October 2, 2013