The Cabinet approved increasing the budget framework for the Khlong Tong drainage construction project in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, from 315 million to 359.52 million baht after construction plans needed adjustment to suit site conditions and improve drainage efficiency.
On 21 July 2026, Second Lieutenant Phatdarasmit Thongsaluaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, disclosed that the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' proposal to increase the debt commitment limit and extend the multi-year commitment period for the contract to construct a 4-kilometer drainage canal and related facilities under the Khlong Tong Drainage Project in Phatong Subdistrict, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province.
The Deputy Spokesperson explained that the key point of this resolution is the Cabinet’s approval to raise the cross-fiscal debt commitment limit for the project from 315 million baht to 359.52 million baht, an increase of 44.52 million baht, and to extend the debt commitment period from fiscal years 2020–2025 to 2020–2027 to allow uninterrupted construction until completion.
The budget increase arose because project implementation encountered limitations related to site conditions and the construction route, necessitating adjustments to the construction design and additional work items to match the actual terrain. These include modifying the drainage canal alignment, relocating drainage gates, redesigning certain canal sections, and adding drainage system components to ensure the construction is suitable, safe, and more efficient without affecting the project’s objectives.
Second Lieutenant Phatdarasmit said that upon completion, the project will enhance water drainage efficiency in Phatong Subdistrict and surrounding areas that regularly face flooding during the rainy season. It will reduce damage to lives and property, improve Songkhla’s long-term water management capacity, and allow development of the project area into a recreational space and a community aquatic breeding ground in the future.