The National Environment Board (NEB) on Wednesday approved an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study allowing water diversion from the Yuam River to Bhumibol dam, despite opposition from environmental activists.
This is to prevent water shortages in the country's largest dam, which feeds people along the Chao Phraya River basin.
Jatuporn Buruspat, permanent secretary to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, said the board approved the EIA study proposed by the Royal Irrigation Department (RID).
However, it suggested the RID follow the EIA's guidelines for environmental mitigation, including a clear plan to plant forests to offset lost forest land and a recommendation to advise farmers to plant crops that use less water.
The RID plans to add more water to the dam by diverting water from the Yuam River in Mae Hong Son province to the dam in Tak through a tunnel.
The Mae Yuam Reservoir would be built to support the project. Some 3,641 rai of forest zone could be demolished by the project, including over 800 rai in a protected forest zone that will be declared as a national park.
Department of Royal Irrigation deputy chief Chalearmkiat Kongwichienwat said the department will prepare a request for land use to state agencies before sending the matter to the cabinet.
"We plan to forward the project to the cabinet by next year or early 2023. We have no plan to collect water fees from farmers as there is no law enabling us to do so," he said.