Hat yai: The Prime Minister visited the "Khlong Rian Retention Pond" to monitor the flood prevention system in Hat Yai, emphasizing the need to keep the public safe from flooding.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, along with the Cabinet, visited the Khlong Rian reservoir in Khon Hong Subdistrict, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. Their visit was to monitor the project aimed at improving the efficiency of the Khlong Rian reservoir and the Hat Yai city flood prevention system. Following this, the Prime Minister was set to chair an off-site Cabinet meeting at Prince of Songkla University.
Mr. Narongporn Na Phatthalung, Mayor of Hat Yai Municipality, explained to the Prime Minister that the Khlong Rian flood control reservoir plays a crucial role in storing and slowing down water flow from Khao Kho Hong and surrounding areas before it is drained into Khlong Rian, Khlong Wawa, and Khlong U-Tapao. This mechanism helps reduce the water volume entering Hat Yai city and Kho Hong subdistrict. Currently, the reservoir spans an area of approximately 85 rai and can hold 530,000 cubic meters of water. Hat Yai Municipality has plans to enhance its capacity to 780,000 cubic meters, with the project design already submitted in the 2028 Water Resources Action Plan.
The Prime Minister reiterated the government's commitment to safeguarding the residents of Hat Yai from flooding. The Khlong Rian flood retention basin is vital for managing water flow and minimizing the water volume entering the city. The government plans to allocate funds for the construction of an additional 25 rai of flood retention basin within the municipal area, aiming to increase the total water storage capacity to 1 million cubic meters, up from the current 530,000 cubic meters.
The enhancement of the Khlong Rian retention pond is a component of Hat Yai Municipality's integrated flood prevention and mitigation strategy. It is being executed alongside the Khlong Toei Drainage Efficiency Improvement Project Phase 1 and the Khlong Toei End Drainage Efficiency Improvement Project. These efforts aim for comprehensive water management through both "water slowing" and "water drainage" methods to protect economic zones and reduce flood risk for residents in 103 communities within the Hat Yai Municipality.