Despite the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the 350-billion-baht water management plan is likely to stay on course as projected, as several steps of the process have already been completed, says the Office of the National Policy on Water and Flood Management (ONWF).
"We are just waiting for contracts to be signed with private firms," said Supoj Tovichakchaikul, ONWF's secretary-general, noting the water projects are long-term developments that have already passed through public hearings in several provinces.
The public hearing in Bangkok was originally scheduled for Dec 6, but it was postponed because of political unrest.
Public hearings on the water management plan have been organised since August, as the Administrative Court's ruling requires hearings to be held once at the national level, four times at the regional level and 39 times in the provinces.
"We expect the political demonstrations will end next week, and the public hearing process in Bangkok will be organised as soon as possible," said Mr Supoj.
After the hearings are completed, the next step is to sign a contract with the four companies that won bids for the development of nine modules.
Mr Supoj expects an official contract could be signed in February after a new government is in place, a one-month delay. The water management project is regarded as a key programme to drive the economy next year.
The National Economic and Social Development Board projected 66.52 billion baht will be disbursed for the water management project next year.
The agency estimated both the water management project and the infrastructure development plan will help boost the Thai economy to 4-5% GDP growth next year.
Without those two projects, Thailand's GDP is forecast to drop one percentage point from the forecast.
