More budget asked to improve water resources

 Siripong Hungspreug, director-general, said the additional budget, on top of the fixed Bt1.7 billion budget for the 2009 fiscal year, would be used to hire about 600,000 workers to develop and rehabilitate 6,000 water sources nationwide. While 20 per cent of the additional budget would be paid out to workers, the rest is for construction materials and the construction fee. If approved by the Cabinet, the project could be implemented immediately for completion in September.

 Siripong noted that without the Cabinet's approval, the department would finance projects with budgets for the 2010-2011 fiscal years.

 However, he is confident that the department would win the approval as this is a recurring project. While creating jobs in the short term, it would also prevent drought in the coming dry season. He noted that the project would ensure additional water supply of 800 million cubic metres.

The department will soon submit the 3-year mega-projects on water to the government. Starting in 2009, the five projects would require an investment of Bt1.959 billion, mostly involving the channelling of water from major rivers.

 

Separately, there is a plan to divert water from the Mekong River, which would be discussed at the upcoming Asean Summit. The project also needs supports from the Finance Ministry as it will entail the budget of Bt32 billion. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has so far sponsored the feasibility study which cost at least Bt500 million.