File photo for reference only

 

Thailand's water-management agencies are pushing for a reform of the country's 60-billion-baht integrated water budget, advocating for a shift toward large-scale infrastructure projects. This proposal addresses the fragmentation caused by small, politically influenced projects that hamper long-term planning and disaster preparedness. Notably, the Hat Yai region could see upgrades to R.1 Canal and Khlong U-Tapao, along with a new flood diversion system to safeguard economic zones.

 

Thailand allocates over 100 billion baht annually for water management, split between a 60-billion-baht integrated water plan and 40–50 billion baht for disaster compensation tied to floods and droughts. Following recent major floods, government agencies revisited their budget strategy. For the FY2027 budget, senior officials from key departments proposed restructuring the water budget to fund long-term strategic initiatives rather than fragmented projects.

 

A government source emphasized the need to shift budget allocations from political motives to national priorities, urging the government to implement these changes starting with the FY2027 budget. The 2027 Integrated Water Management Plan seeks to mitigate flood impacts and promote sustainable solutions. Reviewed by the National Water Resources Committee, the plan must gain approval from river basin committees before submission in December 2025.

 

The guidelines mandate collaboration among at least two agencies per project, aligning with Thailand's 20-year Water Resources Management Master Plan. This plan covers water supply, production security, disaster management, ecosystem conservation, and governance. Projects will integrate upstream, midstream, and downstream solutions, such as retention areas and drainage systems, to enhance flood prevention.

 

Agencies are focusing on regions facing severe problems to maximize budget efficiency. The latest plan approved in June 2025 involves 55,003 projects totaling 439.44 billion baht across eight ministries and 67 provinces. The 2027 budget, however, emphasizes urgent projects to avert flooding in key areas, including Hat Yai, where proposed initiatives aim to protect vital urban and commercial zones.

 

Additionally, in the Central Plain, there's consideration for constructing new dams north of the Chao Phraya Dam to control water flows and mitigate downstream impacts, reported The Nation.

 

Key Takeaways

• Agencies propose a budget shift to long-term projects to improve flood disaster response.
• The 2027 plan focuses on collaboration and must align with the 20-year Master Plan.
• Hat Yai's proposed projects are prioritized to safeguard its economic regions.

 

Related Stories

Opposition MP Blames PM Anutin for Flood Mismanagement

Thai King Contributes 100 Million Baht to Support Flood Victims

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-12-01

 

 

 

Too little to late !!   This is Thailand all over always AFTER THE FACT 

Thailand forever reactive and never proactive when it comes to any of the disasters that have happened over the yrs 

25 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Too little to late !!   This is Thailand all over always AFTER THE FACT 

Thailand has invested billions in water management infrastructure over the last 20 years. And flooding has generally been getting better so they do deserve some credit (and yes, they took advice from the Dutch and implemented many joint projects contrary to the AN bar stool myth).

This was supposedly a once in a 300 year event. Would your country be prepared for that? No. 

41 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Thailand has invested billions in water management infrastructure over the last 20 years. And flooding has generally been getting better so they do deserve some credit (and yes, they took advice from the Dutch and implemented many joint projects contrary to the AN bar stool myth).

This was supposedly a once in a 300 year event. Would your country be prepared for that? No. 

Flooding has long been one of Thailand’s most persistent and destructive challenges.

Floods in Thailand are the product of both natural conditions and human-made vulnerabilities:

the roots of the problem lie in geography, governance, and development choices.

despite promises of reform and ambitious flood defense plans after 2011, progress has been slow. Large-scale projects often stall at the planning stage, hindered by cost, politics, or lack of consensus.

One of the biggest obstacles to solving Thailand’s flood problem is governance. Despite multiple agencies tasked with water and disaster management—such as the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM)—coordination is poor, responsibilities overlap, and leadership is fragmented. 

57 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Thailand has invested billions in water management infrastructure over the last 20 years. And flooding has generally been getting better so they do deserve some credit (and yes, they took advice from the Dutch and implemented many joint projects contrary to the AN bar stool myth).

This was supposedly a once in a 300 year event. Would your country be prepared for that? No. 

Agreed.

 

Flood management in Hat Yai has improved significantly since the last major flood in 2010, but this event dwarfed anything previously. In 2010 we had half a meter of water in the house, this year despite the massive R1 relief canal that shifts 1,200m³ of water per second, and diverts water away from the U-Ta-Phao river channel, the house was flooded to 2m depth.

 

In the six day period from November 19th to 24th Hat Yai's Koh Hong weather station recorded 1,126mm of rain, meanwhile up river in the four day period between November 21 to 24th the Sadao weather station recorded 867mm of rain; all that water has to pass through Hat Yai to get to Lake Songkhla.

 

Extreme weather events are pushing flood defence and warning systems in countries around the world well past their designed capabilities. It's not simply a matter of Thai mismanagement and poor planning which just compounds the problem. 

1 hour ago, Stocky said:

Agreed.

 

Flood management in Hat Yai has improved significantly since the last major flood in 2010, but this event dwarfed anything previously. In 2010 we had half a meter of water in the house, this year despite the massive R1 relief canal that shifts 1,200m³ of water per second, and diverts water away from the U-Ta-Phao river channel, the house was flooded to 2m depth.

 

Sorry to hear about your house, I hope the clean up will come out ok.

And yes, the R1 canal was built proactively and has been helping Hat Yai and Songkhla for years. It's easy for the armchair critics to snipe about it but Thailand has done well since 2010 although it could always do better (more regular dredging for example) and where in the world could cope with that volume of water in that short a period of time?

 

Quote

n the six day period from November 19th to 24th Hat Yai's Koh Hong weather station recorded 1,126mm of rain, meanwhile up river in the four day period between November 21 to 24th the Sadao weather station recorded 867mm of rain; all that water has to pass through Hat Yai to get to Lake Songkhla.

That is just an insane amount of rainfall. To put it in perspective that's pretty much the entire annual rainfall of the UK in five days!! And the UK is not known for being a particularly dry country. Also similar to the annual rainfall of Indonesia, Philippines, or India. In five days! 

Toyko is known for excellent flood protection infrastructure and they get on average 1,100 -1,300m of rain a year. Give them their entire annual rainfall in five days and see what happens.

Armchair critics who know nothing really do wind me up - they just snipe snipe snipe on every single thread, it is a mental disease.

Start maybe in cleaning up more often all the drainage pipes ? 

 

Remember this guy who was called over at our house to clean the water drain pipes around the garden. The guy came looked and said they were not blocked so no need to clean !!!🤣

 

This is the mentality here. In full goodwill, they do not understand the concept of basic maintenance; that is to clean and/or replace before it floods or gets blocked !!

13 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Flooding has long been one of Thailand’s most persistent and destructive challenges.

Floods in Thailand are the product of both natural conditions and human-made vulnerabilities:

the roots of the problem lie in geography, governance, and development choices.

despite promises of reform and ambitious flood defense plans after 2011, progress has been slow. Large-scale projects often stall at the planning stage, hindered by cost, politics, or lack of consensus.

One of the biggest obstacles to solving Thailand’s flood problem is governance. Despite multiple agencies tasked with water and disaster management—such as the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM)—coordination is poor, responsibilities overlap, and leadership is fragmented. 

Well said... 

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

advocating for a shift toward large-scale infrastructure projects.

 

 

Maybe the Dutch can help?