Lieutenant Colonel Thanmanat Phromphao led the Kla Tham Party team to Pua District in Nan Province to expedite assistance for those affected by floods and landslides. He urged the government to accelerate water management plans, including dredging the Nan River and its tributaries, fearing repeated flooding next year.
24 Aug 2026 GMT+7 Lieutenant Colonel Thanmanat Phromphao, party-list Member of Parliament and leader of the Kla Tham Party, led Kla Tham Party MPs, including Mr. Akara Phromphao, MP for Phayao, Mr. Prasit Notha, MP for Nan Constituency 2, and the Thanmanat Phromphao Foundation team, to Pua District, Nan Province. They monitored the situation and provided aid to residents affected by widespread flood and landslide damage to homes, roads, water supply systems, wells, and public utilities. This marked the sixth day since the flash floods began on 19 Aug 2016.
During this visit, resources were mobilized from various provinces, including water trucks, excavators, dump trucks, and the Thanmanat Phromphao Foundation’s two mobile kitchens with 1,000 water containers and 300 water tanks of 1,000 liters each. Coordination was made to provide portable toilets, as many wells and water systems were buried under mud and unusable. Lieutenant Colonel Thanmanat ordered machinery to clear paths, remove mud and debris, and help clean homes. Water trucks and tanks would continuously supply water to residents, while mobile kitchens would provide food to victims and staff to support ongoing recovery efforts.
Lieutenant Colonel Thanmanat said that beyond immediate relief, it is crucial to systematically resolve Nan Province’s water management issues. During his tenure as Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, he developed water management and dredging plans. He called on relevant agencies, especially the Royal Irrigation Department, to expedite ready projects without delay.
“The most critical task is dredging the Nan River and its tributaries, along with water reservoirs. The Nan River spans over 300 kilometers, with plans indicating specific dredging points approximately every 30 kilometers up to the Sirikit Dam intake. Without prompt action, similar flooding could occur next year.”
Sustainable water management solutions include urgent dredging at 18 locations along the Nan River, constructing large and medium reservoirs in main and tributary watersheds to increase irrigation for agriculture, domestic use, fisheries, and tourism. There are also plans for a 52-kilometer water diversion project around Nan and Wiang Sa towns with a budget of 24 billion baht to reduce flood peaks before water reaches economic zones and urban communities. Additionally, there is a concept to build a 1.3-kilometer flood protection barrier around Nan Hospital with a budget of 69 million baht to secure the facility that serves many residents annually.
Furthermore, Lieutenant Colonel Thanmanat plans to coordinate with housing and social development agencies as well as the private sector to repair damaged homes, acknowledging that government budgets may be insufficient. He will bring issues identified during the visit to meetings to seek additional assistance measures. “We will not abandon anyone until the situation is resolved. Every form of help matters to flood victims. We stand with the people of Pua and will help restore their homes and communities.”
