Suphan Buri:Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the Song Phi Nong sluice gate in Suphan Buri Province to assess water management strategies and advocate for accelerated long-term projects aimed at alleviating local hardships sustainably.

According to Thai News Agency, the Prime Minister, accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Industry and the Deputy Minister of Interior, highlighted the urgent need for effective water drainage solutions. The current situation is challenged by obstructions like water hyacinth in the waterways, which hinder efficient water flow into the Tha Chin River. Efforts are underway to widen drainage canals and expand floodgates to manage water levels and prevent backflow when the river's water level is higher.

Anutin emphasized the importance of investing in long-term irrigation projects to avoid the resource wastage associated with short-term solutions. He mentioned that future projects, such as the Chainat-Pasak-Gulf of Thailand waterways, are crucial and need to be completed by the 2027 fiscal year. The government is committed to expediting these projects, ensuring that land expropriation and compensation payments proceed swiftly.

The water management issues at Song Phi Nong include the need to increase the number of sluice gates to improve drainage efficiency and mitigate flooding. Proposals are in place to add two more gates at key locations to facilitate water flow and reduce the impact of both droughts and floods.

Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Nirat Pongsitthaworn, stated that flood relief funds were swiftly allocated from the central reserve fund. An additional 4.7 billion baht from the 2026 fiscal year budget was approved for relief efforts, ensuring timely support for affected citizens. The allocation process was expedited, allowing for immediate assistance based on the number of impacted households, ensuring no one was overlooked.