The cabinet approved an 11-year plan today (Tuesday) for the rehabilitation and development of the environment along the 74km Saen Saeb Canal, which snakes through many communities in Bangkok.

The project, will cover the safety of boat travel on the canal, pollution, water quality, landscape improvements, prevention of illegal construction, and water management, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Dr. Rachada Dhnadirek.

The project will involve the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Marine Department, the Pollution Control Department, the Industrial Works Department, the Royal Irrigation Department, the Environmental Quality Promotion Department, the Chachoengsao provincial administration, and the Waste Water Treatment Project.

Dr. Rachada said the project encompasses 84 smaller projects and 39 wastewater treatment facilities in Bangkok and Chachoengsao province. The total investment throughout the 11 years is estimated at 82.5 billion baht.

About 800,000 cubic meters of untreated wastewater or 70% of the wastewater discharged from households, factories, and other business activities, flow into the capital’s canals every day.

When complete, the project will be able to handle 1.36 million cubic meters/day of effluent for treatment, before it is discharged into all the canals of Bangkok.