The Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thira Sutabutra, will repropose the idea for the Cabinet's consideration while the National Legislation Assembly's (NLA) Committee for Agriculture and Cooperatives said they would support it.

Thira revealed Wednesday he would report on the project's current status to the Cabinet and carry out detailed studies  including the environment impact.

Meanwhile, the NLA committee's chairman, Air Chief Marshal Raden Puengpak said if the ministry reproposes the project for the Cabinet's consideration, the committee was willing to support it to tackle both droughts and chronic flooding.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Theera Wongsamut, said the Kaeng Sua Ten Dam - estimated to cost around Bt11 billion - was a major water development project aimed to contain excess water in the rainy season.

The dam has the capacity to hold about 25 per cent of water in the Yom River Basin, and once completed, would benefit 44 districts in 12 northern and central provinces and provide water for 87,000 farms and households.

Regarding the economic gains, the dam's Net Present Value (NPV) was estimated to be around Bt3 billion per year, with the economic rate of return (EIRR) at 18.44 per cent and the benefitcost ratio of 1.60 per cent, Theera said.

The Kaeng Sua Ten Dam has been put on hold for more than a decade since the Chuan Leekpai administration, due to fierce resistance from local people and conservationists.

It was feared the dam construction would destroy one of Thailand's large golden teak forests in Phare's Mae Yom National Park.

The Nation