On 17 Februdary 2010, Mr. Suwit Khunkitti, the minister of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), together with Mr. Kasemsan Jinnawaso, General Director of Department of Water Resources (DWR) went to the field at Nong Salak Dai Temple, Don Jedi District, Suphanburi Province to check progress of the “Irrigation reaches all farms, Tap water reaches all houses” Project. This is the first area under this project that has been visited. This project of MNRE, under responsibility of DWR, was originated with the main objective to listen to opinions of local people and all stakeholders regarding their demand for water. This is to solve problems arising from water shortage among agricultural sector, industrial sector, tourist sector, and household consumption. The project also aims to create occupations and generate sustainable income to the people.
     Mr. Suwit Khunkitti, MNRE Minister, stated that “As a result of water shortage in areas outside the government’s irrigation service, problems of competition for water resources has arisen. If we don’t study the problems to find correct and thorough information about causes, the problems may become worse. According to previous information, 3.7 households, or 18 million people (29% of the whole country’s population), are affected from the problems. In order to solve the problems, there is a need for area expansion of irrigation water service. However, the current irrigation system (through canals) cannot be expanded due to limitations from topography. Therefore, an irrigation system through pipes can be an option to reduce water loss and increase efficiency in water usage. Irrigation through pipes will create a network of water. Thus the “Irrigation reaches all farms, Tap water reaches all houses” Project has been initiated. In addition to being an option, the project allows people to participate by giving opinions and comments regarding problems about water resources that they encounter to the government via DWR. This project has started since January, and 954,323 sets of questionnaires have been submitted by people so far.
     Mr. Suwit Khunkitti also stated that “Besides collecting opinions from people, the Project also informs about problems and simple solutions to people via VCDs, posters, together with medias such as television and radio. This project also coordinates with governors of corresponding provinces and districts, sub-districts’ heads, villages’ chiefs, and relevant persons in order to help accelerate the process of collecting opinions from people. Since water problem is a big problem, the government needs to have correct and precise information as soon as possible. In the name of the Project, I would like to encourage everybody here to help create a network and answer in the questionnaires then send them back to the Department of Water Resources as urgent as possible. The questionnaires can also so be sent to Post Office Box 1, House of Parliament, Post Code 10305. The responsible organizations will further process data from the questionnaires.”