The Cabinet yesterday signed off on a THB300 billion budget to hire a consortium to overhaul Thailand’s water management and flood prevention systems. Terms of reference for hiring Thai and foreign consultants were also approved, MCOT reported.
The money is to be used to finance flood and drought prevention, and water resource management projects, Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said.
There are 14 major projects, eight of which are located in the Chao Phraya River Basin and six in six other river basins, and will cover rehabilitation for reservoirs, canals, water sluice gates, emergency response plans, water retention areas, water diversion, town planning and the establishment of new organizations such as a water ministry, Mr. Ploprasop said
Under the terms of reference, potential consultants “should have worked on a project valued at more than THB30bn with any government.” The government will give equal opportunity to all interested in the consortium, and has invited foreign firms because “the government needs advanced technology for water.”
Construction is expected to start next year.
