The company said it has acquired land in Chon Buri for a reservoir to hold 7.5 million cubic metres of water. Its total supply for this year now stands at 343 million cubic metres, or 95 per cent of the capacity of its reservoirs.

The company expects demand for water to grow this year, because of the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport and the expansion of the petrochemical industry in Rayong. It believes it will supply a total of 223.4 million cubic metres, up 10-15 per cent from last year.

Education gift :PTT donates tech learning room

PTT yesterday presented an information and communications technology learning room to a school in Khon Kaen, so that students may learn all aspects of the energy industry and gain awareness of the need for energy conservation.

The school also received a kitchen where students can learn how to cook.

The rooms cost Bt1.2 million each.

PTT senior executive vice president Nanthachai Praphawatwet said the project was aimed at lifting the quality

of Thailand's future human resources.

Land reform :Agency to set up mobile service

The Agricultural Land Reform Office has allocated Bt69 million for the establishment of a mobile service to ensure people receive maximum benefit from the government's land-reform policies.

Secretary-general Anant Phusitthikul said the service would help people who have been granted "Sor Por Kor 4-01" lots totalling 2.1 million hectares in 69 provinces. The grants was aimed at enabling 809,873 farmers to generate additional income.

The service will begin in May. It will focus on ensuring that farmers receive the correct land reform benefits, reforming land management, providing knowledge for farmers to create new income sources, strengthening farmer's productivity, providing soft loans, setting up farmer institutions, enabling business development and providing more information technology to 1.3 million farmers.

Death of hotelier :Sithi passes away, aged 79

Sithi Tandavanitj, president of the southern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, died recently after suffering a heart attack. He was 79.

A sociable Phuket native, Sithi was a member of the management committee of The Metropole Hotel and also served as president of the Parent-Teacher Association at Phuket Vocational College. He was formerly president of the Thai Hotels Association.

Sithi may best be remembered for opening his family's Sino-Portuguese-style home to townspeople and tourists for performances during the annual Old Phuket Festival. Sithi's son, Thiti Tandavanitj, said the family would continue to host the performances.