Bangkok: The Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department has announced nine policies under the "ONE RID" initiative aimed at transforming the organization into a smart entity focused on water security.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Witthaya Kaewmee, the Director-General, emphasized the need for the Royal Irrigation Department to adapt its water management strategies in response to climate changes, rising water demand, and technological progress. The transformation is encapsulated in the "ONE RID: One Power, One Goal" concept, which outlines nine key policies and nine urgent tasks planned for implementation within 90 days, aiming to deliver tangible benefits to the public and enhance the department's operational efficiency.
The first policy, Smart Water, involves using AI, data, and digital technology for real-time water resource management, including the development of Smart Dams and Smart Canals to improve prediction, decision-making, and water forecasting accuracy. The Basin One Plan policy adopts a comprehensive approach to river basin management through a One Basin Dashboard, ensuring coordinated decision-making across major river basins.
Water Augmentation focuses on enhancing water resources through reservoir development, royal projects, and increased storage capacity, while Trust RID aims to build transparency and accountability within the department. High Value Agriculture promotes water-efficient farming for higher income, and Reduce Flood and Drought seeks to strengthen disaster preparedness through improved infrastructure and real-time warning systems.
Green RID is committed to reducing the department's carbon footprint by promoting renewable energy and developing low-carbon irrigation projects. Together RID fosters a collaborative working environment by decentralizing power and encouraging innovation. Participatory Governance allows citizen involvement in water management, ensuring that local needs are met effectively.
The government has also announced nine urgent missions to kickstart the transformation, focusing on practical public benefits. These include improving infrastructure safety, restoring damaged irrigation structures, enhancing drainage efficiency, ensuring a continuous water supply for farmers, and launching a mobile application for easy access to water information. Additionally, the department will streamline processes through e-workflow, conduct field visits, and strengthen the Smart Water Operations Center for better water situation analysis and forecasting. Lastly, organizational restructuring aims to reduce redundancy and align with modern water management practices.