KANCHANABURI, Thailand – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited Ban Pak Chat Nong Bua in Kanchanaburi province on June 9 to inspect progress on a large-scale groundwater project under Royal Patronage. Located in Lao Khwan district, the initiative is designed to ease drought conditions and improve water access for household and agricultural use. She was joined by senior officials from the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment and Transport.
During the visit, the Prime Minister viewed an exhibition on local water management and toured the groundwater production and mineral water distribution systems. The project has already supported nearly 100,000 households and includes 12 proposed infrastructure packages comprising over 3,000 subprojects. With a combined budget of 14.859 billion baht, the proposals are expected to yield more than 211 million cubic meters of water annually.
Spanning 134,620 rai, the project is expected to benefit over 560,000 households and generate more than 29,000 jobs. It forms part of the government’s wider strategy to strengthen essential infrastructure, enhance water security, and promote economic resilience in drought-affected areas.
The Prime Minister also met with residents and distributed sample water containers. She confirmed the government’s readiness to expand similar projects to nearby areas and other provinces to improve the quality of life. Her visit continued to Huai Krachao district, where she inspected Phase 2 of the project, reinforcing water infrastructure as a core component of the national development agenda. (NNT)
