Atthawit countered Governor Chatchat on the issue of canceling the Khu Bon water retention reservoir project, presenting evidence that the land expropriation budget is only 254 million baht, not 11 billion baht as broadly claimed.
On 1 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Atthawit Suwanpakdee, party-list MP of the United Thai Nation Party, held a press conference responding to Bangkok Governor Chatchat Sitthiphant's statements about the Khu Bon water retention reservoir project, a facility with a capacity of 870,000 cubic meters over 130 rai on the city's eastern side. Atthawit displayed past project promotional documents, stating the original land acquisition budget was only 254 million baht. However, Governor Chatchat evaded the issue by lumping the budget with that of the Bang Chan reservoir, inflating the figure to 11 billion baht. The project had undergone public consultations since 2017 and had a draft land expropriation decree issued at the end of 2021 but was halted after Governor Chatchat took office in 2022.
Atthawit said he has submitted a request to the parliamentary anti-corruption commission to urge Bangkok authorities to review and revive the Khu Bon water retention reservoir project to work alongside the Nong Bon giant tunnel in addressing eastern Bangkok's flooding crisis. He also noted that the new 2026 draft Bangkok city plan, which is open for public comment until 9 Nov, does not reserve land for the Khu Bon reservoir, potentially undermining future water management. Meanwhile, Chawalak Wiangwiset, a local community representative, confirmed that residents have closely followed the issue and want Bangkok to build the reservoir alongside the drainage tunnel system to help slow floodwaters before they inundate communities along Khlong Khu Bon, Khlong Sam Wa, and Khan Na Yao.