Experts Threaten Walkout On Flood Prevention Schemes, Source Claims: Thailand

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Experts threaten walkout on flood prevention schemes, source claims

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

Sumet and others 'fear big spending project won't resolve water woes'

Sumet Tantivejkul and other water experts from royal projects got so uneasy about the government plan to spend massive funds on flood-prevention projects they considered quitting the water management committee set up to restore public confidence, a source said yesterday.

This follows a reported dispute during a meeting last Friday of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management.

The panel proposed a plan to spend Bt350 billion on water resource management in 18 major rivers in Thailand - with Bt300 billion earmarked for the Chao Phraya River in the Central plains.

Last Friday afternoon, the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development, chaired by former finance minister Virabongsa Ramangkura, endorsed the plan, which was expected to be forwarded to Cabinet for approval at its weekly meeting today.

However, some members of the water committee - experts from royal projects - objected, as the plan would require massive funds of over Bt100 billion, a Government House source revealed.

They feared that state agencies would not spend the money effectively, and the flood problem would remain unsolved.

They were not convinced the plan would systematically solve water-related problems, namely flood and drought, as anticipated by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the source said yesterday.

"Many committee members, such as Dr Sumet and Royol Chitradon, became very uneasy about the government plan to spend massive funds on water management projects.

"This caused them to consider resigning from the committee. They are expected to make their decision soon," the source said.

Sumet is secretary-general of the Chaipattana Foundation under patronage of His Majesty the King. Royol is an independent flood expert and director of the Thai Integrated Water Resource Management project.

The source said the PM was aware of the problem and likely to phone Sumet to talk about it. He had declined to meet with the prime minister in person at the weekend to "clear any problem" about the matter, according to the source.

The prime minister said yesterday she was unaware of a dispute by members of the water management panel or speculation that some of its members were set to resign.

-- The Nation 2012-01-10

[Moruya]

She's got her finger on the pulse that one.

[Bakseedaa]

Obviously these guys are honest men , and can see how many peoples in government will benefit financially from these Huge spending projects... corruption , corruption , corruption... noses in the trough , and fill your pockets at the expence of the Thai peoples.... Well done Mr T...... you taught them well...!

[OzMick]

"In order for evil to flourish, all that is required is for good men to do nothing."( Edward Burke.) - Good on you gentlemen.

"Sumet..... had declined to meet with the prime minister in person at the weekend to "clear any problem" " - Perhaps he doesn't like "doughnuts".

[EvilDrSomkid]

She's got her finger on the pulse that one.

Oh yeah!

"The prime minister said yesterday she was unaware of a dispute..."

What? Again? She seems to be unaware of many things. That is not good if your are the Prime Minister!

Pathetic...

[nurofiend]

She's got her finger on the pulse that one.

Oh yeah!

"The prime minister said yesterday she was unaware of a dispute..."

What? Again? She seems to be unaware of many things. That is not good if your are the Prime Minister!

Pathetic...

she does use the unaware line a bit much but to be fair on this occasion, this is a nation story gathered from a 'source',

so the possibilty of her being genuinely unaware about this one is quite plausible.

[sparebox2]

Sumet is right. He also has the connection and backing.

[Buchholz]

Obviously these guys are honest men , and can see how many peoples in government will benefit financially from these Huge spending projects... corruption , corruption , corruption... noses in the trough , and fill your pockets at the expence of the Thai peoples.... Well done Mr T...... you taught them well...!

Corruption in this administration runs rampant AND in this case alone, involves hundreds of billions...

The panel proposed a plan to spend Bt350 billion on water resource management

And, as noted by others.... the PM is unaware, yet again for the umpteenth time, of that which is happening around her.

Three cheers for those independent specialists... I hope they can hold steady with their beliefs...if even in memory of the deceased Shipping Moo, who also stood his ground.

.

.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Buchholz

[Skywalker69]

She's got her finger on the pulse that one.

Oh yeah!

"The prime minister said yesterday she was unaware of a dispute..."

What? Again? She seems to be unaware of many things. That is not good if your are the Prime Minister!

Pathetic...

+1

[Farang0tang]

"They feared that state agencies would not spend the money effectively, and the flood problem would remain unsolved."

[Buchholz]

The panel proposed a plan to spend Bt350 billion on water resource management

Didn't know the 1/3 Trillion Baht to pay for it was going to be from the government taking out a loan... with the approval of it rushed through via a executive decree.

Cabinet passes 4 executive decrees to rebuild Thailand

BANGKOK, 10 January 2012 (NNT) – The cabinet has given the green light to four executive decrees concerning the acquisition of loans for investing in water management in order to rebuild confidence in Thailand after the flood crisis.

According to Secretary-General of the Council of State Atchaporn Charuchinda, the four draft decrees, which have been approved in the weekly cabinet meeting, pertain to the Bank of Thailand’s provision of 300,000 baht in soft loans for flood victims, the acquisition of a 350 billion-baht loan by the Ministry of Finance to reconstruct the country after the floods, the establishment of a 50-billion-baht insurance fund, and the management of the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF)’s debt worth 1.14 trillion baht.

Mr. Atchaporn revealed that the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF) and the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM) had earlier proposed that the government rush to rehabilitate the country from flood devastation, restore the confidence of both Thais and foreigners and devise a sustainable flood prevention system.

Therefore, in order to promptly achieve these objectives, the cabinet agreed to give its endorsement to the four executive decrees.

-- NNT 2011-01-10

[phiphidon]

Obviously these guys are honest men , and can see how many peoples in government will benefit financially from these Huge spending projects... corruption , corruption , corruption... noses in the trough , and fill your pockets at the expence of the Thai peoples.... Well done Mr T...... you taught them well...!

Corruption in this administration runs rampant AND in this case alone, involves hundreds of billions...

The panel proposed a plan to spend Bt350 billion on water resource management

And, as noted by others.... the PM is unaware, yet again for the umpteenth time, of that which is happening around her.

Three cheers for those independent specialists... I hope they can hold steady with their beliefs...if even in memory of the deceased Shipping Moo, who also stood his ground.

.

.

Please note the entire "article" is based on a "source" but it's acheived it's aim - the usual suspects are up in arms................and buchholz manages once again to try and dish some dirt with more off topic mentions.

[hellodolly]

Well it goes with out saying the corruption will be rampant.

How ever is that a reason to do nothing?

The article said

"They were not convinced the plan would systematically solve water-related problems, namely flood and drought, as anticipated by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the source said yesterday."

If it was under 100 billion would they be convinced. They have not offered a alternative to the obviously over funded plan. For my money a real expert would have a plan.

Then again it is in the Nation and from a source.

The article also said

"The panel proposed a plan to spend Bt350 billion on water resource management in 18 major rivers in Thailand - with Bt300 billion earmarked for the Chao Phraya River in the Central plains."

Is the m300 billion baht to be spent on the Chao Phraya River. Or is it over and above the 350 billion to be spent on water management in 18 river systems?

[billd766]

Well it goes with out saying the corruption will be rampant.

How ever is that a reason to do nothing?

The article said

"They were not convinced the plan would systematically solve water-related problems, namely flood and drought, as anticipated by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the source said yesterday."

If it was under 100 billion would they be convinced. They have not offered a alternative to the obviously over funded plan. For my money a real expert would have a plan.

Then again it is in the Nation and from a source.

The article also said

"The panel proposed a plan to spend Bt350 billion on water resource management in 18 major rivers in Thailand - with Bt300 billion earmarked for the Chao Phraya River in the Central plains."

Is the m300 billion baht to be spent on the Chao Phraya River. Or is it over and above the 350 billion to be spent on water management in 18 river systems?

The way I understood it was that 300 billion was to be spent on the Chao Phraya and the remainder on the other 18 river systems.

I remember reading a short while ago that around 30% of government funds are expected to be lost due to corruption so figure 90 BILLION baht will be STOLEN on the Chao Phraya project leaving only 210 billion to complete the job and 17 BILLION to be stolen from the other project leaving perhaps 33 billion to complete the job.

It makes me think for a little bit that I was born in the wrong country at the wrong time and I could have been rich beyond my wildest dreams and then I think what could be done in Thailand if corruption was down to (only) 10% and spent on the people who need it and not on those with obscene amounts of money.

[JulesMad]

I am UNaware of my UNawareness

Is there something I should know?

[phiphidon]

And, as noted by others.... the PM is unaware, yet again for the umpteenth time, of that which is happening around her.

Three cheers for those independent specialists... I hope they can hold steady with their beliefs...if even in memory of the deceased Shipping Moo, who also stood his ground.

.

.

Please note the entire "article" is based on a "source" but it's acheived it's aim - the usual suspects are up in arms................and buchholz manages once again to try and dish some dirt with more off topic mentions.

And, Suprise! The entire article is based on a "source" and it turns out to be untrue. No retraction or apologies from The Nation or forum posters - No change there then.

Sumet denies he plans to quit govt water-resources panel

http://www.thaivisa....esources-panel/