The Cabinet of Thailand approves a 20-year plan on water resources management that intends to solve drought, flooding and wastewater issues, reports the Bangkok Post.
This week, the Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), Somkiat Prachamwong, has said that this water masterplan is the second of four pillars that includes specific targets for officials.
The plan includes constructing over 541,000 small dams, restoring 5,600 square kilometres of watershed areas, supplying safe water to 75,032 villages by 2030, and finding solutions to the country’s chronic alluvions and droughts in 66 different areas.
The plan is based on six main strategies: the correct management of water usage; water production security; flood control; water quality conservation; afforestation in watershed areas; prevention of soil damage; and managerial approach.
The masterplan is to be carried out until 2037 and will be used as a “map” for the Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR). This office is considered the third pillar.
The ONWR was created to reduce redundancy caused by more than 40 water agencies across seven ministries.
The first pillar, the 2018 Water Resources Act, came into force at the beginning of this year.
The last pillar will bring innovative ideas and new technologies to tackle the country’s water challenges.
Mr Somkiat added that many water projects that have played a key role in limiting drought damage to crops and protecting people against severe flooding will also receive further significant funding.
