The Cabinet has approved an extension and budget increase for the Khlong Phlo reservoir construction project in Rayong province, to cover rising land compensation costs and accelerate construction. The project is aimed at securing water supplies for over 4,800 hectares of agricultural land and supporting the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
Deputy Government Spokesperson Capt. Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn announced that the Cabinet endorsed a proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, through the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), to extend the project's execution timeframe from four years (fiscal 2022–2025) to six years (fiscal 2022–2027).
The overall budget has also been raised from 3.56 billion baht to 4.29 billion baht.
The adjustment was prompted by the land compensation committee's decision to raise land and property compensation rates to reflect market prices.
The original budget proved insufficient to fully compensate affected residents, which temporarily prevented the RID from accessing certain areas to proceed with construction work.
Located in Khao Chamao district, the Khlong Phlo reservoir is a major infrastructure initiative designed to hold roughly 40 million cubic metres of water and serve an irrigation network covering approximately 4,800 hectares.
The project is expected to benefit more than 1,500 households, mitigate flooding in Khao Chamao and Klaeng districts, provide reliable water for consumption and agriculture and act as a reserve supply for the expanding EEC zone.
Patdarasm stated that, with the revised timeline and budget now approved, the RID plans to expedite land compensation payouts and move ahead with building the dam and secondary facilities, aiming for completion within fiscal 2027.
She added that the Cabinet instructed the ministry and the RID to adhere strictly to the updated schedule and budget ceiling to deliver public benefits promptly and avoid any further delays or cost overruns.
