Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome says
that it’s important to “maintain Mabprachan reservoir’s condition … to
increase hard water storage” for Pattaya’s ever increasing needs.
Phasakorn Channgam
Pattaya officials are looking for new sources of water after the Royal
Irrigation Department canceled two area reservoir-expansion projects.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome confirmed Sept. 27 that the government dropped the
Huay Khainow Reservoir expansion days after it axed the 10 million cu. meter
expansion of Mapwaisom Reservoir in Khao Maikaew. In both cases, residents
objected to the digging, which would have displaced local homes and
businesses for the benefit of Pattaya hotels.
“This project was vital to the water supply system, as the hard water was
destined for Pattaya’s water-production plant,” Itthiphol said. “Since local
residents protested against the project, the government will follow their
wishes, but cannot sit idle because water scarcity is not consistent with
development and growth.”
At a Sept. 13 public hearing, Khao Maikaew residents complained that project
was not only unnecessary, but that the government had low-balled
compensation payments to be given to residents who would have to move to
accommodate the 1,200 rai of digging. They said the expansion wouldn’t be
necessary if the government moves forward with the 30 million baht project
to deepen the much-larger Mabprachan Reservoir.
Pattaya officials argued that the two smaller projects were necessary with
the additional Mapwaisom storage equal to both of the lakes’ current total
capacity.
About 150 residents also complained that the government has only offered
50,000-260,000 baht per rai to displaced residents while they believed their
land and improvements were worth 1 million baht per rai.
In the face of the Mapwaisom opposition, officials also re-evaluated the
Huay Khainow and dropped it for similar reasons. Now Pattaya officials must
find a new, additional source of hard water or storage.
“The important factor now is to maintain Mabprachan’s condition, including
development, to increase hard water storage,” the mayor said. “Pattaya has
coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives to discuss
guidelines on water storage and sources for reserve water which may include
requesting budgets to connect sources from Nongkho or Nongklangdon
reservoirs in Takientia, and Nambung Reservoir in Sriracha.”
