Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya has shrugged off growing opposition to his suggested invocation of Section 44 of the interim charter to press ahead with the controversial Mae Wong dam project in Nakhon Sawan.
A total of 133 environmental advocacy groups and 248 environmental activists have railed against his idea. Gen Chatchai has affirmed his support for the dam being built.
The groups said in a joint statement that the Mae Wong dam will destroy fertile forests that are natural sources of water.
The government should tackle the root cause, which is poor water management without having to build the dam, the statement added.
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During his inspection of the water levels in the Bhumibol dam in Tak on Friday, Gen Chatchai said he would look into the possibility of how Section 44 could be exercised to facilitate the government's water management scheme.
The section with its sweeping powers, however, can only be invoked by the prime minister.
Chatchai: Rejects talks with top activist
Gen Chatchai has acknowledged the project is beset by protests against the use of forest areas in Uthai Thani and Nakhon Sawan to build the dam.
He has brought up the Mae Wong dam project because it has the potential to become an alternative water storage facility for the country to fight drought.
The Bhumibol dam, for instance, took five years to accumulate and retain enough water as required under water-retention standards, he said.
His support for the Mae Wong dam has met strong resistance from environmental advocacy organisations and prominent activists including Sasin Chalermlarp, head of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation conservation group.
Mr Sasin on Saturday vowed to launch a protest if Gen Chatchai's proposal to approve the Mae Wong dam goes before the cabinet.
Gen Chatchai said Monday he was not surprised to see Mr Sasin opposing the dam's construction.
However, he firmly believed the project will help ease the problems of locals who have complained of hardship from severe drought and heavy flooding.
Gen Chatchai has turned down calls by Mr Sasin for a meeting with him to discuss the dam. The minister said he saw no point in talks with Mr Sasin who holds a different view on the matter.
The Mae Wong dam project is the brainchild of the Royal Irrigation Department.
The feasibility study was carried out in 1989 and the project was finally approved by the Yingluck Shinawatra administration on April 10, 2012 with a construction budget of 13.2 billion baht.
The environmentalists insist the dam, if allowed to go ahead, will damage at least 13,000 rai of forest in the Mae Wong National Park, home to more than 500 species of wildlife.
In February, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha reportedly instructed agencies involved to study the possible negative and positive aspects of the Mae Wong dam project.
Gen Prayut insisted at the time that the issue remained unsettled.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he believed the Mae Wong dam was being discussed at the ministry level. However, it has not yet reached the cabinet.
To date, the government has discussed overall water management policy and has not specifically delved into the details of the Mae Wong dam project as it is well aware of the controversy it has generated, he said.