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Published on October 9, 2007

The dams will be located in Nakhon Sawan's Phayuha Khiri district and Sing Buri's Phrom Buri district. They are expected to cost a total of Bt10 billion and to take four years of construction.

Department director-general Prasong Tanmaneewattana said the scheme would be part of a master plan for developing water transport.

"The dams will help lift the water level in the Chao Phya River and hence allow the travelling of vessels from Bangkok to Nakhon Sawan," he said.

Prasong said the economic returns would justify the huge investment. The dams would encourage those in the transportation sector to shift their focus from land transport to water transport, particularly those involved in the shipment of agricultural products.

"From our study, the cost of water transport is eight times lower than that of land transport. This should reduce the country's logistics costs Bt3 billion per annum," he said.

Meanwhile, Prasong said the Transport Ministry had established a committee

to decide whether state enterprise Thai Maritime Navigation should be dissolved.

The committee is chaired by Finance deputy permanent secretary Sathit Limpongpan.

The committee is expected to come up with its decision this month, and it will be presented to the national marine board at its meeting next month.

"The company should be dissolved," Prasong said.

"For 20 years, it has not had a fleet of its own. Moreover, it's inconvenient for

the state to compete in this industry, because it falls under a number of regulations."

The dissolution was floated recently after a positive performance turned in by TMN, a joint venture between Thai Maritime Navigation and private shipping companies. After only a year of operation, it has two vessels.

Watcharapong Thongrung, The Nation