A creek bed in the Northeast. If the weatherman is right, temperatures will be above normal, and the dry season will be worse than ever. (File photo)

State water management agencies will ask the next government for 417 billion baht to improve water management in the Chao Phraya River basin.

"Water management is the key to prevent critical damage from floods and droughts. The country needs these tools to manage problems which will only get worse," Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya told media during a trip to Chai Nat province recently.

According to the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), over the next 35 years, the area affected by floods will rise from 1.66 to 4.12 million rai, while droughts will also last longer. Severe floods are likely every seven years.

The costs incurred by floods could rise to 150 billion baht per year, up from the current 25 billion baht per year, it warned.

"The projects we have in the pipeline are not just flood prevention measures, they also involve building facilities to store water for harvesting which will help farmers during the dry season," Gen Chatchai said.

The governmentplans to spend several billion baht on water projects to prevent droughts like the one that has hit Kaeng Lawa reservoir in Khon Kaen’s Ban Phai district. Also among the projects are plans to better deal with flooding. (Photo by Chakrapan Nathanri)

One major project is the redevelopment of the Chai Nat-Pasak canal.

At a cost of 36 billion baht, the plan is to widen and deepen the 134-kilometre canal. In addition, two small canals will be created to send water for storage which can be used to assist farmers during the dry season.

Another project is the construction of a floodway from the 3rd ring-road in Bangkok to the existing Chai Nat-Pasak canal.

Running from Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Bangkok and Samut Prakan, the planned floodway will cost about 100 billion baht.

In terms of flood prevention, the floodway can protect 3.48 million rai from flooding. If approval is given, construction would commence in 2022. However, the RID is worried the project might face resistance because many communities will be asked to relocate to make way for the project.

Somkiat Prajamwong, secretary-general of the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), said that next month the office will invite stakeholders of both projects to share their views.

The ONWR will decide about the feasibility of both projects in October before asking the new government to approve the budget.

Regarding the drought situation, the RID has insisted that there will be enough water in the central region this year. Water in major reservoirs in the region remains at 50%, enough for general consumption but not full-scale rice harvesting.

However, the agency remains worried about water shortages because rice farmers have ignored the government's rule to limit rice plantation during the dry season.

The department agreed a 5.3 million rai area for rice plantation during the dry season. However, 5.84 million rai rice paddies are being harvested, according to the RID.