Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin has ordered work to be accelerated on two Cha-am groundwater projects worth about 301 million baht as authorities seek to address drought and water shortages affecting local communities.
Mr Suchart visited Ban Bo Luang School in Huai Sai Nuea subdistrict on Thursday, 13 August, accompanied by senior ministry officials, to review the water situation and discuss measures with provincial and local authorities.
The two projects have a combined budget of 300.786 million baht and are expected to benefit more than 3,380 households, as well as agricultural areas.
The first is a large-scale groundwater development project at Ban Huap Kapong in Khao Yai subdistrict, with a budget of 80.46 million baht. It is intended to provide water for at least 1,130 households and more than 7,608 rai of farmland.
Cha-am groundwater projects to boost water supply
The second project, worth 220.33 million baht, will develop a groundwater supply and long-distance distribution system in Huai Sai Nuea.
Authorities said the system will be able to produce up to 4,300 cubic metres of groundwater per day, or about 1.57 million cubic metres annually.
It will serve more than 2,250 households in Huai Sai Nuea and Sam Phraya subdistricts, as well as the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Centre.
Mr Suchart instructed the Department of Groundwater Resources and other agencies to speed up well drilling and construction while ensuring the work meets engineering standards and is completed on schedule.
Phetchaburi Deputy Governor Phakhaphat Songwatthanayut said water management remained a priority for the province because of its importance to households, agriculture, tourism and the local economy.
He said Cha-am had particularly high demand for water and that long-term solutions would require increasing available water sources while improving transmission and distribution systems.