Thai Government Initiates Long-Term Project for Ayutthaya Flood Mitigation

The current Thai government is initiating a fundamental solution to the long-standing flood issues in Ayutthaya province. Annan Phuritat, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, stated that the politicization of the people's suffering should not occur, following a petition by residents affected by flooding in Ayutthaya province to the Water Resource Management Committee. He explained that the sustainable resolution of flood problems in the Chao Phraya River basin cannot be achieved in short periods of 3-5 months or even 2-3 years, but requires a long-term perspective of at least 7-8 years. He emphasized that the only solution is the construction of a large-scale drainage canal to significantly improve the basin's drainage capacity. Specifically, the "Bamroong Bang Sai" project, which began in 2020, is still incomplete after six years and is expected to be finished within the next two years. However, this project alone will not completely resolve the problem, but will only alleviate some of the burden on residents. Therefore, the current government is pushing forward with the "Chai Nat-Pasak-Gulf of Thailand" project. While this project has been discussed and extensively studied by multiple past administrations without success, the current government under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has accelerated its promotion, with plans to commence construction in the 2027 fiscal year (2027 BE). The government expressed its determination to start the project, stating, "This government has finally taken the first step." Source: INN News