Bangkok--22 Jun--verve
The Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund (HKKT Fund) under the Honda Thailand Foundation and the Utokapat Foundation Under Royal Patronage of H.M. The King undertook their second joint operation today as part of water resources development effort of the royal project in Prachin Buri river basin. The two organizations led a task force of more than 200 volunteers and local residents to grow vetiver grasses and other local plants at Nong Saeng Reservoir in Na Khaem Sub-district, Kabin Buri District, Prachin Buri Province in an effort to keep the area and its residents ready to deal with development issues related to drought and flooding.
Mr. Pairuch Phunduang, Committee of Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund, said, “The Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund was set up with an aim to provide timely emergency relief to Thais in case of natural disasters. Among nature-caused adversities that persistently affect people in many parts of Thailand, seasonal drought and flooding are two issues to be addressed immediately. The HKKT Fund and the Utokapat Foundation are therefore co-hosting our second joint operation to support water resources development works of the royal project in Prachin Buri river basin. Na Khaem Sub-district has been affected by an alternation of drought and flooding for more than ten years, largely due to insufficient water impoundment and shoaled canals. With this field operation, the volunteers brought by the Fund will together with Na Khaem residents form a task force of more than 200 people to grow vetiver grasses and other local plants around Nong Saeng Reservoir. These plants will not only strengthen the top soil but also facilitate natural restoration process and increase water catchment efficiency of this water resource. This field operation is a continuation of our development effort, following the first trip to build rock check dams in the same area early in May this year.”
Mr. Vira Vongsangnak, Director of Utokapat Foundation under Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, said, “Field surveys by civil groups and officials of the sub-district administrative organization led to a key finding that Na Khaem Sub-district is a major floodway for masses of water from Khao Yai down to Rapeepat canal. The area takes 70-80% of Khao Yai water via Sa Kaeo and 100% of the water via Nakhon Nayok. Further down this floodway there is a bottleneck at Chachoengsao. The efficient water management at Na Khaem is therefore crucial for flood mitigation in Prachin Buri river basin. However, this demands information-based, map-based management along with active cross-sector support. The Utokapat Foundation has therefore partnered with the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund to support the operation of Na Khaem Sub-district Administrative Organization. By adopting royal approach of H.M. The King, our water management works and water resources development plans are designed to solve drought by enabling efficient water catchment during the flood season to ensure sufficient water reserve for consumption and agriculture in the drought season. The project will also provide flood mitigation by enabling efficient water flow in the canals. When completed, it will give administrative areas of Na Khaem and Muang Kao Sub-district Administrative Organizations a combined water impoundment capacity of 1,473,376 cubic meters for 8,900 rai of agriculture land and 3,223 beneficiary households.”
The water resources development project in Kabin Buri District, Prachin Buri Province is a two-year plan with budget support of 19,167,000 baht. It covers two sub-districts, Na Khaem and Muang Kao Sub-district, and involves ten development works.
2015 Action Plan (Na Khaem Sub-district)
1. Restoration of Nong Saeng Reservoir and its structure
2. Restoration of Nong Saeng Canal
3. Restoration of Peung Canal
4. Restoration of Nam Ou Creek
5. Construction of reinforced concrete check dam
2016 Action Plan
1. Construction of first reinforced concrete check dam (Na Khaem Sub-district)
2. Construction of second reinforced concrete check dam (Na Khaem Sub-district)
3. Restoration of Pla Khayaeng Pond (Muang Kao Sub-district)
4. Restoration of first site in Tung Sunak Jae Plain (Muang Kao Sub-district)
5. Restoration of second site in Tung Sunak Jae Plain (Muang Kao Sub-district)
“To celebrate 50 years of Honda in Thailand as a corporate citizen with the commitment to contribute to the Thai society, we highly value this water resources management project and we are supporting it to help Thai people deal with natural disasters. With this support, we are also expressing our appreciation for the cordiality we received from Thai people through their confidence and trust in Honda,” Mr. Pairuch concluded.