The Minister of Social Development and Human Security visited the Khlong Mae Kha community in Chiang Mai Province to build on the Prem Pracha canal model by constructing homes and communities and sustainably restoring the quality of life for riverside residents.
On 25 October 2026, Nikorn Somkalang, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, together with ministry executives, visited Chiang Mai Province to inspect and follow up on the progress of housing development for communities along the Mae Kha canal and its tributaries under the concept. "Building homes, building communities, restoring the lives of people along the Mae Kha canal." The focus is on securing land and housing for low-income residents, alongside environmental restoration, quality of life improvements, and strengthening communities, modeled after the restoration of communities along the Prem Pracha and Lat Phrao canals using the 'secure riverside housing' model in Bangkok and its metropolitan area.
The Mae Kha canal is a significant waterway in Chiang Mai Province, approximately 31 kilometers long, with about 10 kilometers flowing through Chiang Mai municipality. Urban expansion has led to land and housing insecurity along the canal, with constructions encroaching into the canal area, causing environmental issues including water quality and residents' living conditions. Surveys identified 20 communities, totaling over 1,800 households, facing housing insecurity. This led to the development of the 'Mae Kha model,' linking housing problem solutions with canal restoration and urban development. Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Mai municipality, the National Housing Authority, government agencies, academia, and community organizations collaborate to drive this effort.
Nikorn stated that the Ban Mankhong Housing Cooperative in Khlong Mae Kha, a key pilot area addressing riverside housing issues, is supported by Chiang Mai municipality, which has provided two land plots totaling 3 rai 1 ngan 96 square wah for the National Housing Authority to lease for 30 years. This area will support housing development, with current plans adjusting foundation designs and preparing for construction of 39 new homes, along with suitable infrastructure and environmental improvements, to enable targeted households to have secure, safe homes and live with dignity in the city. This marks a pilot start for resolving problems and restoring the Mae Kha canal communities.
"The Mae Kha model is not only about building new homes but about creating security for people, strengthening communities, and establishing cooperative systems for urban development, allowing low-income residents to live in the city with dignity and participate in making Chiang Mai a livable city for all groups sustainably," Nikorn said. :
