Department of Highways at the forefront of battle against drought

By THE NATION

 

 

The Department of Highways (DOH) and its subsidiary agencies are playing an active role in relieving the problem of water shortage in local communities and government organisations nationwide, as Thailand copes with one of the worst droughts in years.

 

 

 

The department was enjoined by Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and the government to help tackle the problem.

 

“Our department and subsidiaries have conducted operations in collaboration with the Provincial Waterworks Authority,” said Sarawut Songsiwilai, the department director-general.

 

 

 

A recent report said that the department and its subsidiaries had helped alleviate water problems in 32 provinces nationwide from October 31, 2019 to January 31, 2020.

 

“We distributed 4,353,900 litres of water, and 4,601 households were helped” he added. “We prepared 810 water trucks to help people and government organisations nationwide.”

 

In addition, the department has extinguished 225 conflagrations and forest fires that occurred along the highways, from October 31 to January 31. The fires occurred in 27 provinces nationwide.

 

 

 

“In case of any fires, people can call our hotline 1586 for help 24 hours,” he added.

 

The director-general said that the department had ordered its subsidiaries in every part of Thailand to hire local people, especially farmers, to work in the department’s existing projects. “It is a way of compensating for their lost revenue in the drought season, when crops and vegetables are hard to grow,” he explained.

 

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30381430

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-02-02

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The Department of Highways (DOH) and its subsidiary agencies are playing an active role in relieving the problem of water shortage in local communities

"playing an active role"

it's a reactive role and not a proactive role.

And that underlines the government's lack of a cohesive and comprehensive national water management program. If top government leadership did its job to prepare a national strategy, the lowest levels of government echelons would be ready to prepare and anticipate potential issues such that top government alleged leadership wouldn't have to push down to the lowest echelons to react with solutions.

Case in point:

• Deputy PM Prawit inspects water issues in Ayutthaya - DPM Prawit instructed "all units involved" to increase the diversion of freshwater from the Mae Klong River into the lower Chao Phraya River. https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1146292-deputy-pm-prawit-inspects-water-issues-in-ayutthaya/?utm_source=newsletter-20200202-0948&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

If a Deputy PM has to go into the field to order action, the chain of command is broken and incapable of independent preparation at the lowest government levels.

 

 

^ you might want to lower your "expectations"? 

16 hours ago, Srikcir said:

And that underlines the government's lack of a cohesive and comprehensive national water management program. If top government leadership did its job to prepare a national strategy, the lowest levels of government echelons would be ready to prepare and anticipate potential issues such that top government alleged leadership wouldn't have to push down to the lowest echelons to react with solutions.

While your observations are 100% correct, [and I hate to stop you mid-flow] remember where you are!

This is the Thai way of management.