Prasert”, Deputy Prime Minister, visited Phitsanulok and Phichit to encourage flood victims, ordered the expedition of water drainage and rehabilitation to return to normalcy as soon as possible, stressed the strict management of water and prepared to set a long-term solution to solve the water problem sustainably.
On October 13, 2024, Mr. Prasert Jantarawongthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), as Chairman of the National Water Resources Committee (NWRC), revealed about the visit to Phitsanulok and Phichit provinces to help people affected by floods that he, along with Dr. Surasee Kittimondol, Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), and representatives of relevant agencies, visited Phitsanulok and Phichit provinces to monitor the water situation and floods in the Yom-Nan River basin, and met and encouraged the people. He listened to a briefing on the flood situation and the plan to solve the problem, and provided policies to heads of gover
nment agencies. He then visited the area to monitor the flood situation and hand out relief bags to flood victims in the Thung Bang Rakam area at Wat Phrom Kaset, Bang Rakam District, Phitsanulok Province, and visited the area to monitor the flood situation in Phichit Province and hand out relief bags to flood victims. and boarded a boat to deliver relief bags to vulnerable people in the Ban Ko Sarika area, Sam Ngao District, Phichit Province.
Mr. Prasert said that the government is aware of the problems of people who are suffering from flooding in many areas and has assigned all relevant agencies to urgently provide assistance and provide relief to the affected areas so that the situation can return to normal as soon as possible. Today’s visit to the area has been informed of the water situation in the Yom-Nan River Basin and has seen the problems and suffering caused by the flooding. Therefore, he has ordered a plan to urgently drain the floodwater, especially in residential areas, to return to normal as s
oon as possible, including planning water management for maximum efficiency. Since it is the transition period from the end of the rainy season to the dry season, water management must be meticulous and thorough. In addition, urgent surveys and preparation of reserve water storage areas for use during this dry season are being ordered. In addition, urgent repairs of water barriers and embankments are being ordered, and the safety of dams must be inspected to ensure their strength and stability.
Mr. Prasert said that for the long-term solution, the water management criteria of various reservoirs must be urgently reviewed to be consistent with the current changing situation and spatial context, including considering the development plan of projects that can support flood prevention and resolution that must cover areas of each watershed and watershed group, as well as be in line with climate change, in order for water management to be efficient and sustainable. The Bang Rakam Model project is considered a proto
type for water management, a natural flood retention basin that can accommodate floodwater during the rainy season, helping to alleviate flooding problems that may occur in community areas and the economy very well.
‘From the field visit to monitor the water situation in the Yom-Nan River Basin and listening to the problems and distress caused by the flood this time, in order to solve the various obstacles in water management in the area as efficiently as possible and reduce the amount of water that is still flooding as quickly as possible, I would like to ask the relevant agencies to proceed as follows: 1. Accelerate the drainage of floodwater in the area, especially residential areas, to return to normal as soon as possible, 2. Accelerate the repair of water barriers and embankments to be strong, including checking the stability and safety of the dams to be strong and stable, 3. Review the water management criteria to be flexible and consistent with the current changing spatial context and climate change,
4. Determine long-term problem-solving guidelines and plan the development of projects that can effectively support the prevention and resolution of flood problems in the area, and 5. Survey and consider reserve water storage areas for use during the dry season of 2024/25,’ the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy emphasized.
While Dr. Surasee Kittimondol, Secretary-General of ONWR, said that currently, there are still 19 provinces that are experiencing flooding problems, namely Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Tak, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Sukhothai, Udon Thani, Kalasin, Chaiyaphum, Maha Sarakham, Ubon Ratchathani, Chainat, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, and Nakhon Pathom, which ONWR has collaborated with relevant agencies to assess and closely monitor the forecast of storms that will affect Thailand because there is a chance that another storm will occur. However, from today until October 20, 2024, there is still no risk of a storm forming that will
move into Thailand. The water situation of the water storage areas in the Yom River Basin, 3,857 locations, has a total water volume of 452 million cubic meters or 87%, with only one large reservoir, Mae Mok Reservoir, having a water volume of 105 million cubic meters or 96%. As for the water storage areas in the Nan River Basin, 4,334 locations, has a total water volume of 10,051 million cubic meters or 94%, with two large reservoirs, Sirikit Reservoir, having a water volume of 8,965 million cubic meters or 94%, and Kwae Noi Bamrung Dan Reservoir, having a water volume of 746 million cubic meters or 79%.
For the water resource management project plan of Phitsanulok Province, the central budget has been approved, the reserve fund for emergency or necessary cases in 2024, totaling 30 items, consisting of activities: new construction (water distribution system and water supply system) / repair and maintenance and improvement (water quality, water distribution system, water supply system, drainage system and wa
ter storage ponds for agriculture and industry) can increase the water volume by 0.37 million cubic meters. 449 households will benefit, with a benefit area of ??10,843 rai, such as improving the concrete deck of the PR-64.0R. (C-32) water delivery canal, the Phaya Chumphon water delivery and maintenance project, Ban Rai Subdistrict, Bang Krathum District, construction of a solar-powered water distribution system, supporting the project area to create farmland for the community according to the policy of the National Land Policy Committee (NLPC), Noen Phem Subdistrict, Nakhon Thai District, improving the water retention wall on the right bank of the Khwae Wang Thong River, Wang Phikun Subdistrict, Wang Thong District, etc.
In Phichit Province, the central budget has been approved for the emergency or necessary reserve fund in 2024, totaling 18 items, consisting of new construction activities (groundwater for consumption, water distribution system, and water supply system) and dredging (water distribution sys
tem), with an increase in water volume of 0.35 million cubic meters. 780 households will benefit, covering an area of ??661 rai, such as the Ban Thung Yai water control building, Ban Thung Yai Subdistrict, Pho Prathap Chang District, the Community Water Distribution System Efficiency Improvement Project, Model 1, Village No. 2, Ban Bueng Bua Nai, Bueng Bua Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Wachirabarami District, and the large-scale water production system efficiency improvement, with a production capacity of 10 cubic meters per hour, Ban Nong Prue, Village No. 4, Dong Suea Lueang Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Pho Prathap Chang District, etc.
Source: Thai News Agency