Funding to secure Eastern Economic Corridor water supply

Park rangers of Khao Sip Ha Chan in Chanthaburi check animal footprints beside a puddle. If the Klong Wang Tanod reservoir is built, the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation said 7,503 rai of forest land in the national park and another 7,097 rai of Khun Song forest will be inundated. Seub Nakhasathien Foundation The cabinet has approved more than 7 billion baht to strengthen water security in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).According to deputy government spokeswoman Capt Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn, the cabinet approved a proposal by the Royal Irrigation Department to proceed with the Klong Wang Tanod reservoir project in Chanthaburi province. The project has a budget framework of 7.2 billion baht and is scheduled to be implemented from fiscal 2027-2033, aiming to enhance water resource security in the eastern region, meeting rising water demand from households, agriculture, industry, and development within the EEC. Capt Patdarasm said the reservoir will have a storage capacity of 99.5 million cubic metres and supply water to more than 87,700 rai of irrigated farmland. The project is expected to increase available water for domestic consumption, agriculture and industrial use in Chanthaburi, while strengthening long-term water management capacity in the eastern region. The reservoir is one of 38 priority projects under the water resource development plan supporting EEC development. The cabinet instructed all agencies to implement the project in strict compliance with relevant laws and conditions, and obtain the required approvals before entering protected forest reserves and national park areas for construction, she noted. The project must minimise land use and comply with all environmental protection measures to ensure that water resource development is carried out alongside the conservation of natural resources, Capt Patdarasm said. In addition, the cabinet approved in principle a proposal for the Royal Irrigation Department to work with the Community Organisations Development Institute on the Rural Secure Housing Project. The initiative supports housing development for residents affected by the construction, with the department providing fair and appropriate compensation to affected people in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. At present, the eastern region has six large reservoirs and 52 medium-sized reservoirs, with a combined storage capacity of 2.5 billion cu m. The department forecasts water demand in the region will reach 2.89 billion cu m next year, compared with 2.4 billion cu m in 2017. By 2037, demand is expected to increase by another 670 million cu m to more than 3.5 billion cu m, driven by economic, social and population growth factors. The department noted water demand projections for the special economic development zone must be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect actual water consumption across different sectors. Thus far, the department has completed 17 water resource development projects, increasing available water by 260 million cu m. Another six projects are under construction and are expected to add 100 million cu m upon completion, while 16 other projects are yet to be implemented. If all projects are completed by 2037, total additional water storage capacity could reach 909 million cu m, strengthening water security for residents and farmers both within and outside the EEC, noted the department.