Thailand Live Monday 7 Nov 2011

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RT @RichardBarrow: You can go to Chaeng Wattana Immigration by boat/army truck. If unable, go to Suan Plu or Chamchuri Square

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Additional holidays for court offices

Supreme Court President Montri Yodpanya has issued an order for additional holidays until this Friday for court offices in Bangkok's Thong Buri area as well as the Chief Judge Office of the Court of Appeal Region IX, acting secretary-general of the Judicial Office Saravuth Benjakul said Monday.

Hence all courts in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, were close for holidays until this Friday, he said. Previously Supreme Court President had announced the special holidays from November 711 due to flood.

-- The Nation 2011-11-07

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RT @RichardBarrow: MRT Ratchadaphisek station has 41-43 cms of flood outside. All subway stations still open & trains running

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Bt10-bln Compensation Proposed for Flooded Households

Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong, who is also the commerce minister, is planning to ask for more than 10 billion baht from the Cabinet to compensate some two million households affected by floods and another 118 million baht to restore the industrial sector.

Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong announced that in order to help the flood victims, the industry and economic rehabilitation committee has agreed to ask the government for an emergency fund of about 10 billion baht to assist the roughly two million households affected by the floods.

Each of the flood-hit provinces will receive 50 million baht and the disbursement will be supervised by the Interior Ministry.

To assist the industrial sector, Kittirat is also planning to ask for another 118 million baht, which will be offered as immediate assistance, for projects like establishing temporary facilities to test the water, soil and waste treatment systems.

The deputy prime minister will ask the Cabinet to approve these funds tomorrow.

Kittirat relented that 2012 budget may not be enough to cover the flood reconstruction costs.

The deputy prime minister asserted that new infrastructure must be developed to prevent additional problems in the future and regain investor confidence.

Concerning how much the government should borrow to cover such costs, the government will consult foreign experts about this.

The private sector has recommended that the state lower the personal income tax rate from 30 to 23 percent to fund the reconstruction.

Kittrat said that this is not necessary and that the government will continue with its existing policy.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-07

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470 Spots in BKK See Flooding Exceed 80cm

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has reported that 470 spots in Bangkok have seen flooding exceed 80 centimeters. An estimated 800,000 people live in these areas.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatara reveals that 470 spots in Bangkok are seeing flood levels of more than 80 centimeters. A total of 807,953 people live in these areas.

Ninety-five of these spots are in Saimai District while Nongkaem sees 81, Bangplad, 71, Klong Sam Wa 48, Bangkae 34 and Minburi 31.

The BMA has ordered officials to pay special attention to these areas as a lot or residents remain in their houses, particularly the elderly. District offices have been ordered to make sure people have enough food, drinking water, necessities and other items needed.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-07

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Flood-hit students to be allowed to skip uniform

The Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) secretary-general Dr Chinnapat Phumirat Monday said he would Tuesday instruct flood-affected education areas in a VDO conference to let flood-hit students to wear plain clothes to schools for the second semester opening November 15.

He said he would also ask the Sri Ayuthaya School - and possibly Rachawinit (Primary and Secondary) Schools to function as a shelter for 150 flood-affected Obec officials, providing breakfast and dinner meals as well as transport to and from work.

-- The Nation 2011-11-07

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RT @veen_NT: Flood victims whou want SCG paper toilets pls call 084-1131862 RT @Nan__KT (via RT @wannasiri_)

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Chang water on sale for charity

The Nation

Thai Bevarage, producer of Chang drinking water, announced that it is produced 1.08 million bottles to sell in nine locations. All proceeds will be donated to the Chaipattana Foundation to help in flood relief.

Drinking water will be made available starting from tomorrow (November 9) for nine days at nine different venues. They are:

- tomorrow: the King Chulalongkorn monument on Rajdamnoen

- November 10 - Nonthaburi City Hall

- November 11 - Siam Niramitr Theatre

- November 12 - Rama IX Park

- November 13 - Wongwienyai Compasses

- November 14 - Central, Rama II

- November 15 - Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre

- November 16 - Lumpini Park

- November 17 - Bangkok City Hall

There will be 10,000 packs of drinking water available at each place per day. One person with an ID Card is allowed to purchase five packs - that's 60 bottles (600 cc).

Thapana Siriwattanabhakdi, the company's chief executive officer, said the company had already donated already 4 million bottles since Ayutthaya province was flooded two months ago.

"In order to make drinking water reach as many people as possible, the company spent 18 hours delivering water on rafts from our factory in Bang Ban district, Ayudhaya province."

-- The Nation 2011-11-07

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FROC deputy chief to propose to Cabinet for Bt5,000 compensation for flooded households in 30 BKK districts, using Bt3 bln budget /TANN

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Flood Situation Partly Eases in Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani

The flood situation in many provinces has improved as floodwater has continuously receded.

The flood level in Ayutthaya Province has subsided, allowing many roads to be passable.

The situation in Tha Rua District has returned to normal.

However, residents in lowland areas in 15 districts are still inundated. The situation is expected to improve in one month.

After the floods recede, the recovery plan will first be implemented in communities around Koh Muang and industrial estates.

Officials put wire baskets containing one ton of stones under the water at a channel of railway overpass in Hun Tra Subdistrict in Muang District to slow down water flow.

It does not only caused a decline in floodwater in Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Bangkok, but also prevent further inundation in Rojana industrial estate.

In Pathum Thani Province, the flood level in Muang District dropped by about 50 to 60 centimeters and the situation is expected to normalize in ten days.

On a section of Pathum-Lad Lum Kaew Road, from Pathum Wilai Intersection to the ring road bridge, the floodwater there has receded by 30 centimeters, but the road remains impassable for small vehicles.

In Kalasin Province, deputy director general of the Livestock Department, Thanit Anekwit, visited an evacuation center for animals in Kamalasai District to inspect the flood situation and listen to villagers' problems about their livelihood.

The disaster has affected 67 villages in nine districts of the province as well as nearly 30,000 heads of cattle, ducks and chickens.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-07

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PM to use ASEAN and APEC forums to restore foreign confidence in Thailand; to discuss flood situation with 4 foreign leaders /TANN

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FROC: no record of import of green mamba snakes; Bt50,000 bounty for their capture; to prosecute person who spread the rumor /TANN

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Education ministry postpones new semester for schools in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, 4 districts of Nakhon Pathom to Nov 21 /MCOT

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5.35pm MRT now still operates as normal for every station ~ @MRT_BMCL

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Mahathir's water gift

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has personally donated 130,000 bottles of drinking water to assist flood victims in Bangkok.

Former Marine Police commander Pol Colonel Lertchai Thinrat, who was contacted by the former premier about making the donation, said Satun Deputy Governor Neuchai Jiraapirak and a Marine Police team would travel to Malaysia's Langkawi Island to accept the donation and later deliver it to Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2011-11-07

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5:53pm Water in Premprachakorn canal has decreased by 15cm ~ @fm91trafficpro

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PM to attend APEC Summit in Honolulu from Nov 12-14 and ASEAN Summit in Bali from Nov 17-19 to clarify flooding with intl community /TANN

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BKK governor visits flooded areas in Bangbon District, expresses concern about flooding on Rama II Rd /TANN

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Import duties waived to ease flood impacts

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

The Customs Department will cut or waive import tariffs on vehicles and automotive parts, on condition that the imports are for domestic consumption, said Deputy Finance Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.

Lower tariffs will also be imposed on imported goods, to be donated to flood victims.

To ease flood impacts, importers are waived from import tariffs on machinery, while exporters are allowed six more months to request tax refund .

"These measures would last until things are back to normal," said Boonsong.

-- The Nation 2011-11-07

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New School Semester Postponed to Nov 21

The Education Ministry has once again postponed the opening of the second semester to November 21 for all schools in Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nontaburi, and four districts of Nakorn Pathom Province.

The four districts include Sampran, Nakorn Chaisi, Banglane, and Bhuddhamonthon.

School administrators in other flood affected provinces are allowed to decide on postponement on their discretion, depending on the flood situation.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-07

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Public urged not to consume ice iced drinks from unknown sources

The Public Health Ministry's Department of Medical Sciences Monday warned of possible leptospirosis in flooded areas and against consuming ice and iced drinks from unknown production sources.

In a recent survey, 21 food samples, collected in four flooded provinces including Bangkok, yielded food poisoning manifestations, while 17 out of 57 samples of drinking water possessed germs which caused diarrhoea.

-- The Nation 2011-11-07

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6.51pm:Cabinet will tmrw consider 2 announce special holidays on Nov 9-11 for ppl in flood-affected area incld BKK TR @ThaiPBS/@tukky_nt

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TAT-sponsored Loy Krathong festival maintained at in 4 venues, excluding BKK, Ayutthaya and Suphan Buri. http://t.co/pVAtn67b/via@Bis_TheNation

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Senate calls on govt to treat floodwater

The Senate Monday discussed contamination and hygiene issues and called on the government to immediately begin water treatment and other public health concerns including possible post-flooding outbreaks.

The senators, mostly those who sought to open Monday’s session, said the city administration and the government Flood Relief Operations Centre had overlooked health issues while concentrating too much on flood prevention and drainage. Senator Surachai Liangbunlertchai proposed that FROC set up a special panel to oversee measures relevant to disease prevention and treatment of spoiled water.

-- The Nation 2011-11-07

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(6.44pm) Parking at BTS Mor Chit sation is now completely flooded. #ch3 via @yordyingsvia@veen_NT

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Changing the PM won't solve flood crisis : senators

Senators voiced opposition Monday to a call for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to be replaced, saying such a change would not help alleviate the flood crisis./NationNews

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RT @jpana1: Thai PM Yingluck will attend APEC meeting in Hawaii from Nov 12-14 and ASEAN meeting in Bali from Nov 17-19/NationNews

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CP All is ready to distribute products of flood-hit SMEs through 7-Eleven stores. Contact 02-677-9000./NationNews

47 sugar millers nationwide are recruiting over 10,000 workers to relieve an increase in floods-driven unemployment/NationNews

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From #ch3 sky report, floodwaters creep into Land Transport Dept and gate 1 of Chatuchak market on Paholyothin Rd./via@veen_NT

SCB has re-opened in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thanee, Chainat, Singburi and Ayutttaya where floods recede. via @boomy_NT /via@veen_NT

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NN 24 has its own experts. Tonight it was the turn of a Kasetsart Uni prof and he believes Victory Monument will see water.Didn't say when./@terryfrd