Bangkok: The Cabinet has approved a central budget of 843 million baht to restore irrigation systems in five southern provinces. The decision aims to address the damages caused by severe flooding in 2025.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet allocated 843.26 million baht from the central budget's reserve fund designated for emergencies or necessary expenditures for the fiscal year 2026. This funding will be directed to the Royal Irrigation Department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to undertake restoration projects of irrigation systems in the affected southern region.
The restoration initiative will cover five provinces: Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat, involving 67 specific projects. Notable projects include repairing the R.1 drainage canal in Songkhla, restoring the Raket Canal, a royal initiative, in Satun, and dredging the D7 drainage canal in Yala's Mueang district using hired excavators. Additional efforts include repairing the main irrigation canal's right bank in Pattani's Mayo district and restoring the water delivery system of the Ban Kayahmati Water Control Structure Project in Narathiwat, which is also a royal initiative.
Ms. Rachada emphasized that the Prime Minister instructed relevant agencies to ensure the budget is used for its intended purposes. The agencies are urged to expedite the repair and restoration work efficiently, focusing on cost-effectiveness and maximizing public benefit.