Chiang Rai Holds Public Hearing on Water Management Program

Dry scene of the Mekong River in Chiang Saen district, Chiang Rai province, Thailand.

 

CHINAG RAI – The northern province of Chiang Rai has completed its public hearing on the government’s 350 billion baht flood and water management program.

Governor Pongsak Wangsamer chaired the opening of the forum on Thursday. At least 100 representatives from 18 districts participated and exchanged opinions on the government’s mega projects on water management.

As an upstream province, Chiang Rai’s major problem is drought in the dry season and several villages might be affected from reservoir construction. The opinions expressed by local communities will be used to support the government’s decision making process before the implementation of the mega projects.

The hearings in 36 provinces to be affected by the water management mega projects are scheduled to complete on Dec 6 and the Office of the National Water and Flood Management Policy will disclose the results of the hearing within 15 days. The government hopes that by mid January the government will be able to sign contracts to start the construction of all modules in the water scheme. However, there will be another round of hearing for each project before the companies are able to begin their construction.