Phetchaburi moves ahead with 14.7-billion-baht flood project, including 38km drainage canal for Tha Yang and Cha-am

Phetchaburi is moving ahead with a 14.7-billion-baht flood project that includes a 38-kilometre drainage route between Tha Yang and Cha-am.

The lower Phetchaburi River Basin flood mitigation project, approved by the Cabinet under a royal initiative, is intended to reduce recurring flooding and improve long-term water management. Construction is scheduled to take place over 10 financial years, from 2027 to 2036.

Phetchaburi Deputy Governor Phakhaphat Songwatthanayut chaired a public meeting at Bang Kao Subdistrict Municipality in Cha-am on Wednesday, 2 September, where officials presented details and heard feedback from residents.

The deputy governor said Phetchaburi had faced repeated flooding for many years and asked the Royal Irrigation Department to consider residents’ views during the project’s implementation.

Phetchaburi flood project route and capacity

The work will involve improving existing waterways and constructing a new flood drainage canal, creating a combined route of 38.852 kilometres.

It will begin near Phet Dam in Tha Mai Ruak subdistrict, Tha Yang, and extend towards Bang Kao and Nong Sala subdistricts in Cha-am.

The system will be able to discharge up to approximately 350 cubic metres of water per second into the Gulf of Thailand. It is also expected to improve water releases from Kaeng Krachan Reservoir.

Around 162 rai, or 26 hectares, of mangrove forest will be required for construction. Officials said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment had approved the land use and that a Cabinet exemption had been granted.

Once completed, the project is expected to reduce flood risks across more than 33,690 rai and cut the estimated value of flood damage by about 50 per cent.

The D1 flood diversion canal will also be able to store around five million cubic metres of water for agricultural and household use.

Officials said the project would create an additional transport link between Tha Yang and Cha-am while supporting economic activity and improving water security.