webfact Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Small farmers to be exempt from water charges By THE NATION File photo GOVT ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR NEW SUPPLY AS EEC DEMAND EXPECTED TO SURGE IN FUTURE SMALL-SCALE farmers will be spared having to pay for water from natural sources under a new law, according to the head of the law’s vetting committee. General Akanit Muensawad, who chairs the National Legislative Assembly (NLA)’s committee vetting the water resources bill, said yesterday the charge “certainly will not be imposed” on ordinary consumers and farmers who use small amounts of water. Only commercial farmers raising hundreds of cattle as well as large hotels and golf courses would be charged when the new law takes effect, Akanit added. He said the National Water Resources Management Office would set the rate for charges in a ministerial order. There will be a two-year grace period after the new law is enacted before the charges take effect. The bill has a total of 100 articles. About 60 per cent of the original draft has been revised to comply with the new Constitution of 2017 and the government’s water management strategy and reform plan, which came into existence after the legislation was drafted, Akanit said. He added that the bill had passed public hearings in 50 provinces covering 17 water basins. Later this month, the law-vetting committee will hear views from 42 relevant state agencies, he added. He said he expected the bill to be deliberated by the NLA in the second and third readings in April. Meanwhile, the Cabinet yesterday officially acknowledged the National Water Resources Commission’s water-resource development plan for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the plan estimated that as the economy would be growing in the EEC area, the demand for water there would also rise significantly. “It is predicted that by 2027, the EEC area will need 800 million cubic metres of water each day,” Sansern said. “And the demand will likely grow to 1 billion cubic metres a day by 2036.” Thailand’s Eastern region presently needs just about 325 million cubic metres of water each day. “The region has the capacity to supply 427 million cubic metres a day at present,” Sansern added. Under the plan, three new reservoirs and dykes will be constructed on top of efforts to improve existing water sources and enhance their integration. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338121 -- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-07 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick220675 Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Our village would need to be connected to the government water before the farmers could enjoy free water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardColeman Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Personally I don't think Thais have enough respect for water. Tried to educate my wife that if she used as much water back in the Uk as she does here, we'd be homeless in 6 months ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KMartinHandyman Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Personally I don't think Thais have enough respect for water. Tried to educate my wife that if she used as much water back in the Uk as she does here, we'd be homeless in 6 months !That’s not my observation in my area of Issan. The only waste of water I’ve seen is when the municipal system is opened for flushing. My wife collects rainwater from the outdoor kitchen awning (after it’s running clear) in every bucket and pan for watering flowers, topping the fish bowls and doing dishes etc. despite our PWA bill never exceeding 120 baht when I’m here. Maybe 50 when she’s alone. Her farmer parents and extended family have municipal, well and 4,000 liters in ongs jars and I’ve never seen them waste water. Maybe only some Thais are wasteful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krataiboy Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Most of Thailand's 13 million farmers are small fry. That's an awful lot of votes that could be encouraged to flow in the right direction with the offer of free water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieran00001 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 (edited) 7 hours ago, mick220675 said: Our village would need to be connected to the government water before the farmers could enjoy free water. No, they are enjoying the water they pump out of the ground for free, and that will continue when the new fees for using ground water come in. Edited February 7, 2018 by Kieran00001 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 11 hours ago, webfact said: the EEC area will need 800 million cubic metres of water each day,” Sansern said. “And the demand will likely grow to 1 billion cubic metres a day by 2036.” So farmers will have free water that won't exist. Sounds logical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamyai3 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 13 hours ago, webfact said: Small farmers to be exempt from water charges Doesn't this discriminate against taller farmers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 45 minutes ago, lamyai3 said: Doesn't this discriminate against taller farmers? The small farmers are nearer the ground, hence the free well water. The taller ones probably have their heads in the clouds, so can gets theirs that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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