B43m for reservoir projects

The Royal Initiative Discovery Institute (RIDI) will kick off a series of reservoir projects in the Northeast with a total budget of 42.8 million baht.

RIDI Chairman Grisada Boonrach was part of a group that recently visited several locations in Non Deang and Non Thai districts of Nakhon Ratchasima province to keep track of the projects.

These are based on New-Theory Agriculture and the Sufficiency Economy philosophy initiated by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and executed by the RIDI.

The 42.8-million-baht budget is being subsidised by the Department of Water Resources under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as by a donation from the Stock Exchange of Thailand Foundation.

The initiative aims to reinforce small reservoirs. The RIDI will sponsor provincial government organisations whose budgets are too small to accommodate the construction of such reservoirs.

"The institute will subsidise districts whose locals are willing to participate in the reservoir construction. It will also supervise the plans. We will sponsor the construction materials needed for such activities," said Mr Grisada.

He added that village headmen or district chiefs will have to recruit local residents to participate in the projects.

Once the plan has been executed, locals will set up a panel to oversee maintenance work, he said.