King to launch 5 irrigation projects Saturday

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BANGKOK, July 6- His Majesty the King will preside over the inauguration ceremony tomorrow of five royally-initiated irrigation projects at the Royal Irrigation Department as well as inspect communities along the Chao Phraya River hit by severe flooding late last year.

King Bhumibol is scheduled to leave Siriraj Hospital at 4.30pm tomorrow by boarding the double-decker cruise liner ‘Angsana,’ provided by the Royal Thai Navy.

The monarch will cruise to the north of the Chao Phraya River to visit the communities and residents along the river affected by the last year’s mega flood.

The cruise ship will travel to the Koh Kret area, a mid-river island in the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi province, and will pass through Om Kret and Lat Kret  canals linked with the Chao Phraya River.

The king is set to stop by the Royal Irrigation Department Headquarters at 6.45pm to preside over the opening ceremony of the five royally-initiated irrigation projects by placing a hand on the symbols of the five projects.

Meanwhile, residents of the five provinces where the projects are situated will be able to pay homage to the monarch and witness the special occasion via a video link system.

The inauguration ceremony will be broadcast live on television and radio through 8pm until the ceremony ends and the monarch on the Angsana cruise ship returns to Siriraj Hospital, where  he has been under medical treatment since Sept 19, 2009.

The five irrigation projects initiated by the monarch are Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok, Kaew Noi Bam Roong Dan Dam in Phitsanulok, Payang Bhumipat water tunnel in Kalasin, Thoranit-Narumitr Water Gate in Nakhon Phanom and Uthokvibhajaprasid Water Gate in Nakhon Si Thammarat.