The cabinet Tuesday approved a water development plan for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and infrastructure projects in the eastern region worth 33.5 billion baht for fiscal 2018.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the water supply plan for the EEC area will have two phases, with the first taking 10 years to develop at a cost of 1 billion baht.
The budget for the second phase has not been determined but is also scheduled to take 10 years to complete. The scheme is intended to ensure smooth water supply to investment projects in the EEC.
The Office of National Water Development estimates that demand for water in the EEC will total 800 million cubic metres in 2027 and 1 billion cubic metres in 2036, up from 325 million cubic metres now.
The region can currently supply 427 million cubic metres.
The first 10-year development plan includes the improvement of six existing reservoirs, increasing water supply by 75 million cubic metres, as well as development of three new reservoirs, providing an additional 308 million cubic metres.
The government projects the EEC will draw 100,000 more workers a year, adding to the 3 million already there.
Nathporn Chatusripitak, a spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Chatusripitak, yesterday said the cabinet had endorsed infrastructure development projects in the Eastern region worth 32.5 billion baht for fiscal 2018.
Significant projects include construction of the 220-kilometre high-speed rail project to link three airports, worth 237 billion baht; construction of the 275km double-track rail line to connect with neighbouring countries; and three ports in the EEC.
The EEC committee last week approved 168 infrastructure development projects worth 989 billion baht for the flagship scheme. The infrastructure development plan will come in three phases: urgent, intermediate and long-term.
The urgent phase, during 2017-18, is intended to lure both domestic and foreign investment to the EEC; the intermediate phase, during 2019-21, focuses on transport development; and the third phase, from 2022 onwards, aims to create sustainable development and bolster the infrastructure network to link neighbouring countries.
Of the total EEC infrastructure investment, government spending will account for 30%, with public-private partnerships making up 59%, state-owned enterprises 10% and the Royal Thai Army 1%.
Terms of reference for development projects are scheduled to be issued in the first half, with investment in each likely to be made available this year.
The draft EEC law, pending deliberation by the Council of State, is expected to be read and approved by the National Legislative Assembly this month.
The EEC law, once enforced, is targeted to build up investor confidence.
Meanwhile, Mr Nathporn said the cabinet also approved a plan by National Taiwan University to offer master's degree courses in engineering, robotics with intelligence systems and smart automotive technology in the EEC. The university ranks 76th worldwide.
Last October, the cabinet approved an investment proposal from Carnegie Mellon University, based in the US, to set up a campus in Thailand in partnership with King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.
Faculties will include electrical, computer and software engineering.