Thai Govt Will Seek To Spend Bt900 Billion On Flood Recovery

[webfact]

Govt needs Bt900bn

The Nation

Bt800bn to overhaul water management procedures, Bt100bn to help flooded industrial estates

The Yingluck government will seek to spend a staggering Bt900 billion on national recovery from the still unfolding flood disaster and on long-term flood prevention.

The massive amount includes Bt100 billion for the recovery of inundated industrial estates and Bt800 billion for an overhaul of water-management procedures to safeguard industrial zones from inundation, Energy Minister Pichai Nariptha-phan said yesterday.

"At the special meeting of selected Cabinet members, the prime minister made a recovery proposal to be implemented in two stages," he said.

The first stage, to be implemented within a year, will see the full recovery of flood-hit industrial estates, he said. Some 140 pumps have been imported and would arrive at seven key industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani in the next 20 days to drain floodwater.

For the second stage, under the "New Thailand" plan, the country will see the complete overhaul of its water-management system. The government has yet to finalise its choice among models designed in the United States, the Netherlands and Japan.

The massive spending plan was formulated in the midst of the Bangkok crisis. The besieged city has been brought to a near standstill by fears of widespread flooding. The government was yesterday holding on to hopes that the situation would improve at the end of this week, when sea tides ceased to be a threatening factor, leaving only northern run-off in the Chao Phraya River and the flood water north of Bangkok to deal with.

Flooding spread to wider areas of Bangkok yesterday as the Chao Phraya's water level in the capital reached a record high of 2.53 metres and some portions of floodwall leaked. The government said the situation would not suddenly turn into a major emergency unless certain key strategic flood barriers collapsed, either due to water pressure or deliberate destruction.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shina-watra said the government would not extend the special holiday, which ends today, that was declared in the face of the flooding. The government would, however, ask business operators to allow flood-hit employees to take leave without being considered absent from work, she said.

Bangkok residents should brace for a few more days of hardship, as the worst of the inundation would come to pass in the next few days, she said. She urged residents not to breach the dykes, because this would cause the flood to spread to wider areas. The water volume surrounding the capital will ease starting today and the high tides have already peaked, hence the increased opportunity for drainage of flood water into the sea, she said.

She said she would have to check for more information before commenting on the allegation that relief supplies were left behind in the inundated cargo warehouse at Don Mueang Airport after the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) was relocated to the Energy Ministry on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road.

The shelter at Don Mueang Airport would not be closed despite rising flood water because some victims refused to evacuate, she said.

FROC spokesman Wim Rungwat-tanachinda said the fact that relief supplies were left at the airport's cargo warehouse was attributed to the slow distribution process and not negligence.

Wim said he would have to check why floating toilets were left at passenger terminal II. He said all floating toilets were brought out of the warehouse and transported to the National Stadium, the new distribution centre for relief supplies.

FROC director Pracha Promnok said he was awaiting for an update on the handling and distribution of relief supplies.

Due to criticism, Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul had been removed from overseeing the relief supplies. PM's Office inspector Chamroen Yutitham-sakul was last week put in charge of flood relief. Chamroen said he was responsible for moving the storage of relief supplies from Don Mueang to the National Stadium.

Donated clothes were in the process of being washed and dried before distribution to flood victims, he said, denying the clothes had been abandoned.

In regard to donations for floating toilets, boats and rafts, he said those materials were under the supervision of the Interior Ministry's Disaster Miti-gation and Prevention Department.

Officials in charge of relief supplies admitted flaws in the distribution system. One of the flaws was government MPs could claim credit by putting their names on the relief bags. The FROC was accused of allowing red tape to disrupt distribution of relief supplies via government agencies while allowing MPs unlimited access to the supplies.

-- The Nation 2011-10-31

[kurnell]

Time to buy shares of Shinawatra holdings

[h90]

800 Billion for the Shinawatras and 100 Billion for Thailand.

Soo much luck for Yingluck. I am sure her brother is proud!

[Buchholz]

Bt800 billion for an overhaul of water-management procedures

Wonderful. Take Thaksin's plan... and then double it.

Thaksin Shinawatra Talks about Flood Management

As usual, Mr Thaksin was full of ideas, particularly on how to solve Thailand's chronic water problems.

During the interview, he called for the government to invest in an integrated water management system to permanently solve inundation and drought problems.

Thaksin estimated such a system would cost up to 400 billion baht

Continues:

http://www.chiangrai.../news/3053.html

Chiangrai Times Newspaper

Oct 11 2011

[sirchai]

I'm amazed the they could come up with a fixed amount now. How could they really know how much money is needed?

Guess their fortune teller Mr. T. knew the future before....

[whybother]

I'm glad they spent a lot of time and effort researching this plan.

[DP25]

How could they really know how much money is needed?

They know how much is needed to be spent to get the amount they want for their cut

[Chang_paarp]

I wonder what percentage of tax income that represents?

[maidu]

Yingluck can just snap her pretty little fingers and magically come up with 900 billion baht number. When you're rich like Thaksin and his sister, any problem can be solved by throwing money at it - just as long as a pile of that money blows back. Meanwhile, there are still a raft of on-going problems which don't get a smidgen of that:

>>>> education reform. Assisting Thais to speak better than bar-girl English. Currently, only about 1 in 10,000 Thais can speak more than 'How are you?" "I'm fine thank you."

I've met scores of Burmese street vendors who speak better English than the dozen Thai university English teachers I know.

>>>> assisting hundreds of thousands of Thai-born hill tribers to get an Thai ID card.

>>>> building and stocking some libraries in the library wasteland known as Thailand

>>>> creating some natural parks (not cement slabs) near Thai towns and villages. Currently nearly no parks are found in Thailand.

>>>> helping preserve natural habitat. Currently, there are virtually no wild mammals in the whole of Thailand, other than bats and rats.

[ginjag]

I'm glad they spent a lot of time and effort researching this plan.

Every time we see that the government is going to spend billions, why is it now that most Thais as well as us ex pats just start to laugh. It's a big joke with Thai people now what per cent will be filtered off.

Some would still find a way through the filter if we had International observers monitoring contracts.

How many estimates have they had to carry out this massive FAMILY plan. 5555555 Ha Ha. the only word for this money grabbing family is SICK............Please you present government defenders, get real, speak your mind for a change.----------Just to note ,not so many defenders now as there used to be, maybe some are embarrassed.

[jaidam]

I'm trying hard to think of a positive spin here.

Its possible that buying 900bn baht worth of Dirhams will have a weakening effect on the baht. Could be good for tourism???

[ginjag]

Yingluck can just snap her pretty little fingers and magically come up with 900 billion baht number. When you're rich like Thaksin and his sister, any problem can be solved by throwing money at it - just as long as a pile of that money blows back. Meanwhile, there are still a raft of on-going problems which don't get a smidgen of that:

>>>> education reform. Assisting Thais to speak better than bar-girl English. Currently, only about 1 in 10,000 Thais can speak more than 'How are you?" "I'm fine thank you."

I've met scores of Burmese street vendors who speak better English than the dozen Thai university English teachers I know.

>>>> assisting hundreds of thousands of Thai-born hill tribers to get an Thai ID card.

>>>> building and stocking some libraries in the library wasteland known as Thailand

>>>> creating some natural parks (not cement slabs) near Thai towns and villages. Currently nearly no parks are found in Thailand.

>>>> helping preserve natural habitat. Currently, there are virtually no wild mammals in the whole of Thailand, other than bats and rats.

Agreed, they don't give a toss about wildlife/conservation--only SELF conservation. Greedy sods.

[Deez]

Since no one cpmplained when Khun T quoted 400B, he thought he would double it and see what happens. 400B for the work and 400B for the family

[whybother]

The massive amount includes Bt100 billion for the recovery of inundated industrial estates

...

The first stage, to be implemented within a year, will see the full recovery of flood-hit industrial estates, he said.

Some 140 pumps have been imported and would arrive at seven key industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani in the next 20 days to drain floodwater.

South Korean pumps I assume.

[mijan24]

The massive amount includes Bt100 billion for the recovery of inundated industrial estates

The first stage, to be implemented within a year, will see the full recovery of flood-hit industrial estates, he said.

Some 140 pumps have been imported and would arrive at seven key industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani in the next 20 days to drain floodwater.

South Korean pumps I assume.

The nick of the last poster says it all.

WHY BOTHER

The rich get richer whist the serfs keep surfing along.

[BuckarooBanzai]

FROC spokesman Wim Rungwat-tanachinda said the fact that relief supplies were left at the airport's cargo warehouse was attributed to the slow distribution process and not negligence.

Some would say that is negligence with a goodly addition of incompetence.

[scorecard]

I'm amazed the they could come up with a fixed amount now. How could they really know how much money is needed?

Guess their fortune teller Mr. T. knew the future before....

Totally agree:

- Where's the broad based background assumptions

- Where's the historic, current, and projected data

- Where's the environmental picture: what must be recovered, what must be protected (by strong laws), etc

- Where's the long-term development plan for Thailand and some integration to that plan

- Where's the 4 or 5 possible solution models, and some learned comment on each suggested solution

- Where's the decision making criteria

- Where's the .....

Edited October 31, 2011 by scorecard

[siampolee]

Every cloud has a silver lining for those in control !!.

[somo]

The negativity here is depressing.

Whatever figure was given out I think TV members would moan saying it was too high or too low.

That's all you lot do is moan. Your sarcasm is almost racist.

A determination to find a long term solution to the flood problems is precisely what is needed and it is going to cost a huge amount of money. The money will create a huge number of jobs for Thais and will benefit the whole of Thailand not just Bangkok. Why does everyone here condemn it before anything has even been started. Just because some of the money will go astray is no reason for that. Money goes astray in all government spending all over the world. Look at your home countries before spouting your puritan bullshit here.

[SICHONSTEVE]

FROC spokesman Wim Rungwat-tanachinda said the fact that relief supplies were left at the airport's cargo warehouse was attributed to the slow distribution process and not negligence.

Some would say that is negligence with a goodly addition of incompetence.

"Due to criticism, Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul had been removed from overseeing the relief supplies. PM's Office inspector Chamroen Yutitham-sakul was last week put in charge of flood relief. Chamroen said he was responsible for moving the storage of relief supplies from Don Mueang to the National Stadium".

Punishing criticism in this way is akin to dictatorship and not democracy - it even happened to a PT MP!!!! It is "plain to be seen" that Yingluck is starting to learn from her brothers evil traits .

"Donated clothes were in the process of being washed and dried before distribution to flood victims, he said, denying the clothes had been abandoned".

I hope they checked the labels for special cleaning instructions such as "dry clean only" or "hand wash in cool water and with mild detergent only".

"Officials in charge of relief supplies admitted flaws in the distribution system. One of the flaws was government MPs could claim credit by putting their names on the relief bags. The FROC was accused of allowing red tape to disrupt distribution of relief supplies via government agencies while allowing MPs unlimited access to the supplies".

Nothing like benefitting from "self-promotion" at millions of others misery, is there? Another thing - MP's friends and family were well looked after then (what floods)?? You might just see Northern MP's family members running boot-sales with cheap clothes, bottled water (with a government stamp on the label) and half-price Mama's noodles springing up all over the place in the Northern districts after the floods have receded!!!!!:jap:.

Edited October 31, 2011 by SICHONSTEVE

[whybother]

The massive amount includes Bt100 billion for the recovery of inundated industrial estates

Govt prepares 80bn baht to resuscitate the devastated industrial sector and pledges assistance for the affected Japanese investors. /TANN

20bn baht has already gone missing!

[jimbeam1]

The massive amount includes Bt100 billion for the recovery of inundated industrial estates and Bt800 billion for an overhaul of water-management procedures to safeguard industrial zones from inundation, Energy Minister Pichai Nariptha-phan said yesterday.

No mention of how much to help people, rebuild their lives. Many have lost everything. Not just Industrialists and Industrial workers.

jb1

[Crushdepth]

The negativity here is depressing.

Whatever figure was given out I think TV members would moan saying it was too high or too low.

That's all you lot do is moan. Your sarcasm is almost racist.

A determination to find a long term solution to the flood problems is precisely what is needed and it is going to cost a huge amount of money. The money will create a huge number of jobs for Thais and will benefit the whole of Thailand not just Bangkok. Why does everyone here condemn it before anything has even been started. Just because some of the money will go astray is no reason for that. Money goes astray in all government spending all over the world. Look at your home countries before spouting your puritan bullshit here.

When you grasp the sheer scale of corruption here, you will start to understand.

[serenitynow]

FROC spokesman Wim Rungwat-tanachinda said the fact that relief supplies were left at the airport's cargo warehouse was attributed to the slow distribution process and not negligence.

Some would say that is negligence with a goodly addition of incompetence.

"Due to criticism, Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul had been removed from overseeing the relief supplies. PM's Office inspector Chamroen Yutitham-sakul was last week put in charge of flood relief. Chamroen said he was responsible for moving the storage of relief supplies from Don Mueang to the National Stadium".

Punishing criticism in this way is akin to dictatorship and not democracy - it even happened to a PT MP!!!! It is "plain to be seen" that Yingluck is starting to learn from her brothers evil traits .

"Donated clothes were in the process of being washed and dried before distribution to flood victims, he said, denying the clothes had been abandoned".

I hope they checked the labels for special cleaning instructions such as "dry clean only" or "hand wash in cool water and with mild detergent only".

"Officials in charge of relief supplies admitted flaws in the distribution system. One of the flaws was government MPs could claim credit by putting their names on the relief bags. The FROC was accused of allowing red tape to disrupt distribution of relief supplies via government agencies while allowing MPs unlimited access to the supplies".

Nothing like benefitting from "self-promotion" at millions of others misery, is there? Another thing - MP's friends and family were well looked after then (what floods)?? You might just see Northern MP's family members running boot-sales with cheap clothes, bottled water (with a government stamp on the label) and half-price Mama's noodles springing up all over the place in the Northern districts after the floods have receded!!!!!:jap:.

It's reminiscent of the good old days:

Thammasat University would be sued : Suranand

The Thai Rak Thai Party would sue Thammasat University if it held another mock trial of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and declared him a corrupt politician, a party executive said on Saturday.

"The mock trial has confused the people about whether the allegations are true," Suranand Vejjajiva said. "It's an act of defamation against the prime minister - and he has no chance to defend himself."

If it were held again, Thai Rak Thai would sue Thammasat University as the host and all involved, Suranand said.

"The party is disappointed with Thamasat University. Its rector and executives should take our comments seriously," he said.

Four prominent politicians on Friday "testified" before the mock court at Thammsat University that Thaksin was a "very serious" threat to Thai society and should be tried as a criminal and "executed" if found guilty.

Snoh Thienthong, Pramuan Rujanaseri, Sanan Kachornprasart and Chuwit Kamolvisit said Thaksin had abused his power and was selfserving.

Suranand rejected Snoh's claim that Thaksin had pushed through many unnecessarily large public works projects so he and his allies could siphon off money. He said the allegation was groundless.

Banjerd Singkaneti, a law lecturer at Thammasat University, said he had no idea how Thai Rak Thai would sue the university. The mock court only reflected the truth for the public, he said.

The Nation

http://www.nationmul...es_20002527.php

[anterian]

The negativity here is depressing.

Whatever figure was given out I think TV members would moan saying it was too high or too low.

That's all you lot do is moan. Your sarcasm is almost racist.

A determination to find a long term solution to the flood problems is precisely what is needed and it is going to cost a huge amount of money. The money will create a huge number of jobs for Thais and will benefit the whole of Thailand not just Bangkok. Why does everyone here condemn it before anything has even been started. Just because some of the money will go astray is no reason for that. Money goes astray in all government spending all over the world. Look at your home countries before spouting your puritan bullshit here.

Have you only just noticed? All the posters in this particular thread are totally anti government no matter what it does, some virulently, some just sarcastically. As I wrote elsewhere if a meteorite crashed into Bangkok they would claim it was Yingluck's fault.

[hammered]

The negativity here is depressing.

Whatever figure was given out I think TV members would moan saying it was too high or too low.

That's all you lot do is moan. Your sarcasm is almost racist.

A determination to find a long term solution to the flood problems is precisely what is needed and it is going to cost a huge amount of money. The money will create a huge number of jobs for Thais and will benefit the whole of Thailand not just Bangkok. Why does everyone here condemn it before anything has even been started. Just because some of the money will go astray is no reason for that. Money goes astray in all government spending all over the world. Look at your home countries before spouting your puritan bullshit here.

Have you only just noticed? All the posters in this particular thread are totally anti government no matter what it does, some virulently, some just sarcastically. As I wrote elsewhere if a meteorite crashed into Bangkok they would claim it was Yingluck's fault.

Indeed. Lets actually praise the government for looking at investing realistic amounts in infrastructure, or at least trying to do something.

[ableguy]

800 Billion for the Shinawatras and 100 Billion for Thailand.

Soo much luck for Yingluck. I am sure her brother is proud!

Yes just how much will be sucked off by bent people.

[sirchai]

I'm amazed the they could come up with a fixed amount now. How could they really know how much money is needed?

Guess their fortune teller Mr. T. knew the future before....

Totally agree:

- Where's the broad based background assumptions

- Where's the historic, current, and projected data

- Where's the environmental picture: what must be recovered, what must be protected (by strong laws), etc

- Where's the long-term development plan for Thailand and some integration to that plan

- Where's the 4 or 5 possible solution models, and some learned comment on each suggested solution

- Where's the decision making criteria

- Where's the .....

Even in the lower north east is such a huge damage that nobody could estimate how much money would be needed to recover....

[hammered]

I'm amazed the they could come up with a fixed amount now. How could they really know how much money is needed?

Guess their fortune teller Mr. T. knew the future before....

Totally agree:

- Where's the broad based background assumptions

- Where's the historic, current, and projected data

- Where's the environmental picture: what must be recovered, what must be protected (by strong laws), etc

- Where's the long-term development plan for Thailand and some integration to that plan

- Where's the 4 or 5 possible solution models, and some learned comment on each suggested solution

- Where's the decision making criteria

- Where's the .....

Even in the lower north east is such a huge damage that nobody could estimate how much money would be needed to recover....

At least we can say that those in the areas damaged have the government they like in place and one dependent oin their votes so there is an onus on government to do the right thing and not penny pinch and it si a government trusted by the people in these areas so there should be less chance for conflict and anger.

[elcent]

where is the breakdown of this highly exaggerated figure.

At the moment it looks more like looting the country.