Cabinet Approves 95 Billion Baht Chao Phraya East Irrigation Upgrade

Deputy Government Spokesperson Pattharadarsami Tongsluaykorn announced that the cabinet has approved the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry's Lower Eastern Chao Phraya Irrigation System Improvement Project with a total budget of 95 billion baht over six years, from fiscal 2027 to 2032. The project aims to enhance water management efficiency and address recurring flooding in the Chao Phraya basin.

The funding consists of 76.51 billion baht in loans (80.53%) and 18.49 billion baht in annual budget expenditures (19.47%), with implementation divided into two phases to manage financial risks and land-acquisition challenges. Phase one, budgeted at 40.51 billion baht, will accelerate construction and expansion of north-south canal networks to improve drainage directly into the Gulf of Thailand in ready areas without encroachment issues. The work covers seven major canals: Rapi Pattana, Rapi Pattana South Branch, Canal 13, Nakhon Nueang Khaet, Phra Ong Chao Chaiyanukit, Samrong, and Darn.

The project encompasses 22 primary irrigation canals spanning approximately 460 kilometres with 23 water-control structures across eight provinces: Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, and Bangkok. The scheme will increase Rapi Pattana Canal's intake capacity from 210 to 400 cubic metres per second and boost drainage capacity to the Gulf through coastal canals to 144 cubic metres per second. The Irrigation Department estimates the completed project will reduce average annual flood damage by approximately 10 billion baht, protect over 258,000 rai of residential and economically important areas from inundation, and increase water storage for dry-season consumption by more than 17 million cubic metres annually.