Thai Govt Vows To Protect Industrial Areas: Flooding

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AFTER FLOODS

Govt vows to protect industrial areas

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

JEERAPOL PRASERTPOLKRANG

THE NATION

Amid high concerns over recurrence of flooding in May next year, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong vowed to protect industrial and trading areas under the soon-to-be launched master plan on water management.

The Cabinet will today convene a special meeting to consider a post-flood reconstruction budget, which Kittiratt hinted would exceed Bt40 billion if the Cabinet gave the green light to all the projects being considered at the meeting. The budget ceiling for reconstruction is said to be about Bt120 billion.

Speaking to the business community on the last day of the 29th annual meeting of the Thai Chamber of Commerce on "Integration for driving the Thai economy's sustainable growth", Kittiratt said the government cannot guarantee that there will be no more floods next year. However, under the master plan, the government can assure that industrial and commercial zones will be stringently protected, while some agricultural areas prone to flooding will face minimum losses and get full compensation from the government.

"The master plan is almost done. It will gradually be put into action soon. The government will today send helicopters to survey floodway construction along two sides of Chao Phraya River," said Kittiratt.

As an urgent measure to ensure minimum impact from flooding next year, Kittiratt said the government will start to repair and improve maintenance of drain pipes, canals, and rivers within 3-5 months, before the rainy season next year. It also has plans to invest a huge budget for developing 25 river basins around the country to increase efficiency in water management under the long-term master plan.

The government will also integrate the works of 31 involved organisations that are responsible for water management to increase water management efficiency.

Kittiratt said the government would closely cooperate with the private sector to strengthen the country's sustainable economic growth by narrowing the income gap, and also tackle corruption to solve economic and social conflicts.

Amid high concerns about corruption, which have been raised continuously in the past year, "Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and I will cooperate with the private sector and do our utmost to inspect and ensure transparency in budget spending for rehabilitation", said Kittiratt. He also reaffirmed that the government would not launch any project to benefit Cabinet members or involved officials, but not benefit the country.

"I agree that corruption is terrible now. The government will seriously crackdown on any process that's not transparent, to reduce corruption by both government officials and the private sector.

He said that despite severe floods this year, the government will pursue its policy to increase the minimum wage as well as boost farm prices.

Kittiratt said the government must increase wage and farm-sector income as it wanted to reduce the income gap and boost domestic spending, which would lead to sustainable economic development. He asked for cooperation from private enterprises to cooperate with the government to ensure the country's growth.

Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman Phongsak Assakul has submitted the chamber's plans on anti-corruption measures, rebuilding the country in the aftermath of the flooding, and strategies to narrow the income gap to Kittiratt, so that the government and the private sector can cooperate closely on strengthening the country's growth.

Phongsak has high expectations that the chamber's development plan will be adopted by the government, which will promote sustainable growth.

The chamber focuses on rehabilitating businesses after the inundation as well as on a plan to prevent floods. It also has a project to boost farmers' incomes to Bt100,000 per year per rai, covering rice and cassava cultivation. It will also continue its campaign against corruption and to build transparency in the society.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday chaired a ministerial meeting to vet the post-flooding reconstruction budget ahead of today's special Cabinet debate.

"The meeting of selected Cabinet members was necessary because I want to make sure that relevant agencies have coordinated reconstruction efforts to prevent duplication and ensure efficiency," Yingluck said yesterday.

The outcome of yesterday's meeting would be the basis of the Cabinet debate today exclusively devoted to flood recovery and restoration.

The spending plans will include compensation payments for flood-hit people, ensuring livelihood, restoring the quality of life, restoring and recovering industrial infrastructure impacted by the floods and ensuring future flood control.

Regarding flood control, the spending plans would factor in recommendations from the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management. Before chairing the ministerial meeting, the prime minister presided over the Big Cleaning Day project in Bangkok's Don Muang district.

Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said in his report that the government would rely on the Don Muang model for handing out flood compensation.

Flood victims could be disbursed the compensation payments via three options - having the city administration verify the damage; bypassing the city to disburse the Bt5,000 compensation upon presenting pictures showing the damage; and disbursing compensation anywhere regardless of the district office with jurisdiction over the home address.

The government has been pushing to speed up payment of insurance claims for vehicles damaged by the floods.

The relevant agencies are working to ensure fair charges for vehicle and home repairs. The Education Ministry will organise a caravan of repairmen to provide free services for flood damages.

-- The Nation 2011-12-12