7.2 Billion Khlong Wang Tanod Reservoir Project and Environmental Conc

Prachachat•Politics•17d ago

Reader Briefing

The Thai Cabinet approved a 7.2 billion baht budget for the Khlong Wang Tanod Reservoir project in Chanthaburi Province to support the EEC.

•The Cabinet approved the project on August 5, 2026, with a budget of 7,200 million baht.
•The reservoir will have a capacity of 99.5 million cubic meters and benefit 87,700 rai of land.
•The project is managed by the Royal Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
•The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation is opposing the project due to environmental impacts on Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park.

•On August 5, 2026, the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' Royal Irrigation Department to proceed with the Khlong Wang Tanod Reservoir project in Chanthaburi Province.
•The project has a budget framework of 7,200 million baht with a long-term operational plan of 7 years from fiscal years 2027 to 2033.
•The reservoir is located in Kaeng Hang Maew District, Chanthaburi Province, designed to solve water shortages in the East and support the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
•The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation warns that the project area overlaps with Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park, risking the loss of wildlife habitats and forests.
•The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation claims the Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) report contains inaccurate data regarding forest value and ecological surveys.
•The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court on June 5, 2026, to revoke the EHIA report.
•The Central Administrative Court issued an order on July 15, 2026, not to accept the lawsuit because the project had not yet passed Cabinet approval at that time.
•The Royal Irrigation Department must review details and reduce the area size according to the National Environment Board's resolution before requesting the revocation of national park land.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The government body that approved the budget and framework for the Khlong Wang Tanod Reservoir project.

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์)

The ministry responsible for overseeing the Khlong Wang Tanod Reservoir project.

Royal Irrigation Department(กรมชลประทาน)

The department tasked with implementing the Khlong Wang Tanod Reservoir project.

Seub Nakhasathien Foundation(มูลนิธิสืบนาคะเสถียร)

A conservation organization opposing the reservoir project and challenging its EHIA report in court.

Administrative Court(ศาลปกครอง)ℹ️

The judicial body where the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation filed a lawsuit to revoke the EHIA report.

National Water Resources Committee(คณะกรรมการทรัพยากรน้ำแห่งชาติ)

The committee that gave in-principle approval for the project on June 29, 2026.

Community Organizations Development Institute(พอช.)

The organization approved to work with the Royal Irrigation Department on the Rural Stable Housing project.

National Environment Board(คณะกรรมการสิ่งแวดล้อมแห่งชาติ)

The board whose resolution requires the Royal Irrigation Department to adjust the project area size.

National Park Board(บอร์ดอุทยานแห่งชาติ)

The board that must approve the revocation of national park land for the project.

Chanthaburi Province(จังหวัดจันทบุรี)ℹ️

The province where the Khlong Wang Tanod Reservoir project is located.

Kaeng Hang Maew District(อำเภอแก่งหางแมว)

The district in Chanthaburi Province where the reservoir is situated.

Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park(อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาสิบห้าชั้น)ℹ️

The protected forest area that overlaps with the reservoir construction site.

Eastern Economic Corridor(เขตพัฒนาพิเศษภาคตะวันออก)ℹ️

The economic zone that the Khlong Wang Tanod Reservoir project aims to support with water security.