Cabinet Approves 363 Million Baht Emergency Fund for Chiang Rai Flood Recovery

CHIANG RAI – The Cabinet has given the green light to allocate a central emergency budget of 363.62 million baht to support 18 flood recovery projects in Chiang Rai province.

On August 26, 2025, Mr. Anukool Pruksanusak, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, announced that the Cabinet approved Chiang Rai’s request to use funds from the 2025 central emergency budget.

The funding will support recovery efforts for areas in Chiang Rai hit by recent floods. Chiang Rai can now access these funds through the Budget Bureau, following the required legal and regulatory steps, as proposed by the Interior Ministry.

Mr. Anukool shared that between September and October 2024, several areas across Thailand faced severe flooding, brought on by Typhoon Yagi, Typhoon Sulik, cold air, and heavy monsoon troughs.

In response, the government set aside funds for emergency relief and to help repair infrastructure damaged by the floods. On November 29, 2024, the Cabinet approved Chiang Rai’s urgent request to fund recovery projects.

The province later submitted a proposal seeking funding for 19 separate initiatives, totalling 397.59 million baht. The Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has since approved a budget allocation of 363.62 million baht for 18 projects under the 2025 central emergency fund. These initiatives will help restore areas affected by the floods in Chiang Rai.

Here are the 18 approved recovery projects in Chiang Rai:

1. Light Festival (Lost Light, Wiang Chiang Rai), budget: 9.68 million baht
2. Restoration and protection of Highway 131 (Bypass Road, Chiang Rai, km 8+700 to km 9+300), budget: 45 million baht
3. Upgrading reinforced concrete roads and building new drainage in Muang Daeng community, Mae Sai Subdistrict, budget: 52.23 million baht
4. Upgrading reinforced concrete roads and drainage in Ko Sai community, Mae Sai Subdistrict, budget: 24.04 million baht
5. Upgrading reinforced concrete roads and drainage in Mai Lung Khon community, Mae Sai Subdistrict, budget: 53.2 million baht
6. Upgrading reinforced concrete roads and drainage, Lom Choi-Doi Wao Road, Doi Wao community, Wiang Phang Kham Subdistrict, budget: 12.18 million baht
7. Upgrading reinforced concrete roads and drainage in Pa Yang Chum community, Mae Sai Subdistrict, budget: 12.18 million baht
8. Building a new concrete road alongside the irrigation canal in Rim Kok Subdistrict, Muang Chiang Rai District, for better access and to reduce flood impact, budget: 3.28 million baht
9. Repairing and upgrading the wastewater treatment system, budget: 17.65 million baht
10. Economic recovery and revitalization project for Chiang Rai following the floods, budget: 9.33 million baht
11. Restoration and upgrade of Highway 1232 (King Mengrai Monument to Wiang Chai, km 0+000 to km 2+000), budget: 45 million baht
12. Repair of river embankment protection at public parks along the Kok River (Fang Min community, Rong Suea Ten, Pa Daeng), budget: 25 million baht
13. Improved drainage within Chiang Rai Municipality, budget: 17.63 million baht
14. Repair riverbank protection at Ko Loi public park, budget: 14.23 million baht
15. Upgrading sidewalks along Kong Kham Road in the Nam Lad community, budget: 5 million baht
16. Landfill improvement project, budget: 15 million baht
17. Asphalt resurfacing and sidewalk construction along Kraisorn Sit Road, budget: 1.8 million baht
18. Support for marketing and product development for local community products, budget: 1.19 million baht

A separate project for riverbank protection at Thanarak village in Rim Kok Subdistrict, with a proposed budget of 29.1 million baht, is still pending. The province is waiting on land-use approval from the Treasury Department. Once granted, Chiang Rai can request funding for this project as well.