It will continue the Water Resource Development Project in the Prachin Buri Basin under Royal Patronage of HM the King. The project will enable the local community to prepare for the likelihood of floods and drought in a sustainable way.

The partners anticipate that the project will increase water-impoundment capability to 3.5 million cubic metres, resulting in compensation for damage and increased income for the community.

Once it is complete, the project will enable the community to become a model for others when it comes to managing and mitigating the risk of floods and drought in the future, said Pitak Pruittisarikorn, managing director of the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund.

This is the second year that the HKKT Fund has implemented the Water Resource Development Project in the Prachin Buri Basin as a major campaign. The project aims to raise awareness among Thais when it comes to withstanding natural disasters.

“Coinciding with the project, we have implemented a pilot activity to encourage a number of volunteers, including Honda employees, Honda distributors, and local people, to participate in a good-cause effort to develop water resources by restoring dams for agricultural and consumption use,” Pitak said.

“The project includes promoting vetiver grass and local plants as a way to conserve soil and water, and provide a soothing green area where local people can relax.”

Dr Royol Chitradon, secretary-general of the Utokapat Foundation, said site surveys by administrators from Muang Kao and Na Khaem sub-districts in Kabin Buri district discovered that flooding and drought problems had occurred repeatedly in this area for more than 10 years. This flooding is a consequence of huge masses of floating weeds blocking efficient water flow, and means that irrigation canals cannot do their job.

On top of that, Prachin Buri is an important watershed area that helps to withstand 70-80 per cent of the flooding in Khao Yai National Park and 100 per cent in Nakhon Nayok province, before it connects with the Prachin Buri River.

Because of the waterway facing a bottleneck in Chachoengsao province, it requires effective and participatory water management in these two sub-districts. Because of this, the HKKT Fund adopted the Kaem Ling Project that HM the King initiated as part of its measures to increase the water-storage capacity in areas such as dams and ponds between small canals.

The Rehabilitation and Development Project for Pla Kayang Swamp in particular represents a massive 448-rai (71.6-hectare) water-storage area that the fund plans to rehabilitate to increase its capacity. This will help significantly during periods of potential floods and droughts.

The HKKT Fund is supporting the Water Resource Development Project in the Prachin Buri Basin with a budget of Bt15.8 million for 2016, the second year of the project. The project covers the Muang Kao and Na Khaem sub-districts and coincides with the Rehabilitation and Development Project of Pla Kayang Swamp and Boong Kabao Canal.

When the project is completed this year, authorities anticipate an easing of the flooding problem that has caused tremendous damage to more than 10,000 rai of plantations in the two affected sub-districts. It will help reduce government spending and compensate for damages and losses.

The project will increase the water reserve for a 16,000-rai area and increase manufacturing income during the dry season. It will also increase water-storage capability to 3,459,821 cubic metres per year, including 14,093 rai of agricultural area, and will expand the water supply to 4,485 additional households, Pitak said.