A group of Nakhon Sawan residents are urging the government to press ahead with construction of the Mae Wong dam, arguing it would help solve flooding and drought problems.
Representatives led by Samrong Yiangyong, a member of the Sakae Krang river basin committee, submitted a letter to Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya yesterday.
They said the dam would resolve alternating problems of water shortages and flooding in the Chao Phraya and Sakae Krang basins.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha inspected the area last Friday and instructed agencies to look into the pros and cons of the dam.
He said the construction could be worthwhile if the dam can ensure water for more than 300,000 rai of farmland in the area.
Prasong Intarakhun, a river basin committee member, claimed residents in Nakhon Sawan and Uthai Thani provinces wanted the dam to be built. Construction costs are estimated around 13 billion baht.
Mr Prasong said the dam had the backing of a National Environment Board (NEB) committee and he wanted the panel to forward its recommendation to the full NEB as soon as possible.
Critics say the dam would result in the loss of 10,000 rai of forest.
Mr Prasong said locals have volunteered to plant trees in a 30,000 rai plot to compensate for the loss.
Under the original plan, the Mae Wong dam's reservoir would cover about 13,000 rai in Mae Wong National Park and would hold up to 250 million cubic metres of water. A feasibility study was conducted in 1989, sparking opposition from environmentalists.
In 2012, the project was pushed forward by Yingluck Shinawatra's government with a budget of 13.2 billion baht. However, strong opposition shot down the plan.
One of the dam's opponents is the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation. Foundation chairman, Sasin Chalermlarp, told experts conducting the environment and health impact assessment that the dam was not worth the investment as it had a very low water storage capacity. He estimated it was only a fifth of a major dam's capacity.