Opposition Proposes ‘House Lifting Fund’ and Revised Water Management Plan to Aid Flood Victims Outside Flood Barriers

On October 8, 2025, at 10.30 a.m., Natthapong Ruengpanyawut, Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives and a member of the People’s Party, together with fellow MPs, held a press conference proposing long-term solutions to the nation’s recurring flood crisis. They called on the government to establish a “House Lifting Fund” to support residents living outside flood barriers and to revise current water management strategies to better suit this year’s heavy rainfall.

Natthapong said that during visits to flood-affected provinces in the lower North and Central regions, such as Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Pathom, and Ang Thong, he found that many communities were suffering from severe floods, particularly those located outside flood barriers, which are inundated year after year. He expressed concern for affected families and urged government agencies to ensure children’s safety from dangerous floodwaters. He also called for the establishment of proper evacuation centers, noting that many families were forced to take refuge in roadside tents, risking accidents from passing vehicles.

According to Natthapong, rainfall this year has been 10% higher than in 2024, while authorities continue to prioritize floodplain drainage as the main management method. This approach has intensified flooding in unprotected areas. He urged the government to revise both flood management and compensation systems, suggesting that relief payments should reflect the severity of flooding in each area, rather than applying uniform national criteria. He also recommended increasing the current 9,000 baht relief payment to better align with real living costs.

The People’s Party also proposed a long-term resilience strategy, including the creation of a “House Lifting Fund” to help residents in repeatedly flooded zones elevate their homes and buildings. This, Nattapong said, would reduce damage during future floods and provide a more cost-effective use of public funds. He emphasized that such an investment would also stimulate local employment and deliver lasting community benefits, in contrast to short-term cash handouts.

People’s Party MP Tawiwong Totawiwong added that current water management policies by the Office of the National Water Resources and the Royal Irrigation Department overly rely on diverting water into floodplains. This has caused prolonged and severe flooding in riverside communities outside flood barriers. He proposed a rebalancing of drainage routes,specifically to divert water from upstream of the Chao Phraya Dam toward both the eastern and western directions, as the Tha Chin River basin to the west has already reached full capacity and suffered extensive damage.

The People’s Party outlined three key proposals for government action:

1. Review and reduce water discharge rates from the Chao Phraya Dam to 2,400 cubic meters per second to minimize downstream flooding in Central provinces.

2. Revise compensation criteria to provide monthly payments during flooding periods, covering additional living expenses such as medicines, mosquito repellents, and temporary housing.

3. Establish a “House and Infrastructure Lifting Fund” to develop permanent shelters and multi-purpose centers that can serve both during flood seasons and in normal times.

The opposition reaffirmed its commitment to push for amendments to the Water Resources Act B.E. 2561 (2018) to include a new section on water management funds. This, they said, would ensure more sustainable and continuous assistance for communities affected by recurring floods.

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