The Agriculture Ministry has been given one month to come up with clear answers to all questions raised over its plan to build a 17.6-billion-baht canal in Ayutthaya to limit the impact of massive flooding and ensuing economic losses in the Central region.
At first, Agricultural Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya asked for three months to answer critics regarding the feasibility and cost of the project, but Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha thought that was too long, according to government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, who gave a media briefing yesterday.
The cabinet on Sept 19 agreed in principle to get the construction of the canal under way within two years.
Known as the Bang Ban-Bang Sai canal, the scheme will involve the construction of a 23km canal between Bang Ban district and Bang Sai district, a two-lane road along both sides, sluice gates and other structures.
The canal is expected to be a key instrument for water management in the central provinces below the Chao Phraya reservoir to the Gulf of Thailand.
Its primary function will be to carry floodwater away from inner parts of Ayutthaya at a rate 1,200 cubic metres per second.
The canal will have a holding capacity of 25 million cubic metres and will also serve as a water resource for local villages on both sides.
It is expected that more than 220,000 rai of farmland in five districts of Ayutthaya -- Bang Ban, Bang Sai, Bang Pa-in, Phak Hai, and Sena -- and Pa Mok district in Ang Thong would be spared from severe flooding.
After all the initial consultation is over, the Agricultural Ministry will start the survey and design process, before acquiring the land necessary for the construction of the canal and other structures.
The project design and land acquisition are expected to be completed in 2019.
Gen Prayut yesterday said the government had already announced that it was crucial to increase the nation's drainage capacity, but that would inevitably affect certain groups of people who would need additional support from the state.
Flooding in the Northeast is usually attributed to persistent rain and the problem of draining excess water from Ubol Ratana dam, said Thongplew Kongchan, deputy director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department.
As the water levels in main rivers and canals in the Central Plains remain "stable" after water draining from Bhumibol dam in Tak and Sirikit dam in Uttaradit was suspended, only Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi appear to now have high water levels, said Mr Thongplew.
In Phetchabun province, Sudjit Khothong, head of Phu Pha Daeng Wildlife Sanctuary, was found dead yesterday morning, three kilometres from a forest area in Lom Sak district where he was washed away by a flash flood while travelling by foot about 5am yesterday.