Reservoir construction on Chang Island

BANGKOK, Feb 8 (TNA) - The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) will start construction of a reservoir on Chang Island in Trat province after the cabinet approval. Director-General of RID, Thongplew Kongchan said the Cabinet retreat in Chanthaburi earlier this week agreed that the project to build Klong Phrao reservoir on Chang Island gets the go-ahead to address water shortage for local residents during the dry season. The reservoir will have a water storage capacity of 2.35 million cubic metres and will supply water for 1,780 rai (about 712 acres) of land. Importantly, it will be the source of raw water for tap water production to be supplied to population of 13,000 on the island and about 1.3 million tourists per year in the future. The prime minister ordered the RID to speed up the reservoir construction. Irrigation officials met with natural resources and environment minister’s team yesterday on Chang Island to discuss seeking permission for the use of forest area to build the reservoir. (TNA)