Thai PM Yingluck To Head New Flood Agency

[webfact]

FLOOD PREVENTION

PM Yingluck to head new flood agency

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will chair a new agency set up soon to oversee an integrated plan for national water management.

The new body will command all related agencies to work together to prevent floods and resolve problems related to them.

The "single command agency" is part of a plan drawn up by the Strategic Formulation Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development. It will be submitted for Cabinet approval shortly.

Increasing complaints about the huge budget allocated for this task - and a lack of detail about overall water management - has prompted the government to accelerate setting up of the new agency.

Virabongsa Ramangura, head of the Strategic Formulation Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development, said an initial task would be to set up the country's first catastrophe-risk fund with Bt50-100 billion to ensure compensation for businesses in the event of disasters in the future.

In a speech delivered to the Thai-Japan Association yesterday on "Thailand's Strategic Measures for Water Resources Management", Virabongsa said a "single command agency" would seek to increase efficiency in water management now carried out by national, provincial and village-level officials.

To date, water management has been handled by many organisations with overlapping tasks but they have been unable to stop flood problems.

Being chaired by the premier, the new agency would find it easier to manage all agencies under it and achieve its goals. The panel would be made up of representatives from related government agencies as well as water management experts.

"The 'single agency command' will be like a Cabinet order which everybody must follow," he said.

As a short-term measure, it will order government officials to soon start clearing all canals, rivers and water channels.

The National Economic and Social Development Board was considering an outlay of Bt1.9 billion to fund post-flood reconstruction for short and long-term water goals, which the government wanted to see completed on schedule.

"With Prime Minister Yingluck chairing the new body, if there is any delay in implementation of the plan by any agencies, she can ask the Army to undertake water management tasks instead."

The short-term action plan would be implemented by October. And they were confident any new flood would not be as bad as the one that swamped Bangkok last year.

To cope with any flood, the government would also organise a "grand rehearsal" in August. People from the public and private sectors - related state agencies, industrial estates, etc - would be invited to join this event.

"I am confident Thailand will be able to prevent any [further] flood by at least 75 per cent," he said.

In regard to long-term measures, infrastructure such as roads and railways needed to be built. Serious work also needed to be done to protect forests.

The government plans to release excess water via several channels this year: to the East via Rangsit and into the Gulf, to the western coast near Samut Sakhon, and through Bangkok via Saen Sab Canal.

%CUR%Virabongsa said Thailand should have an agency free from political intervention to manage disasters in the future - floods, a tsunami, or storms - as disasters will be a key feature in national development.

President of the Japan External Trade Organisation, Setsuo Iuchi, said Japanese investors were very aware of the government's moves and hoped to see details and a schedule on flood prevention. Firms were considering whether to keep investing here, or to expand in other Asean countries.

Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, chief of Toshiba Thailand, said so far the government hadn't done anything to stop another flood. Companies had moved to protect factories, but they needed to see a clear plan to ensure transport links and key areas would be safe this year, she said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-31

[Soupdragon]

This game is being played in real time. It needs action not words.

President of the Japan External Trade Organisation, Setsuo Iuchi, said Japanese investors were very aware of the government's moves and hoped to see details and a schedule on flood prevention. Firms were considering whether to keep investing here, or to expand in other Asean countries.

Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, chief of Toshiba Thailand, said so far the government hadn't done anything to stop another flood. Companies had moved to protect factories, but they needed to see a clear plan to ensure transport links and key areas would be safe this year, she said.

[Buchholz]

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will chair a new agency set up soon to oversee an integrated plan for national water management.

This is reassuring as her first effort at national water management worked so well...

[KKvampire]

I can tell you that many foreign companies based at the massive High-Tec manufacturing complex near Ayutthaya/Rojana are not investing money in rebuilding and replacing in plant and machinery because they have no confidence in government preventing more flooding and haven't seen any viable plans, some have or are relocating to industrial areas near Rayong and others have just closed down their operations.

Edited January 31, 2012 by KKvampire

[whybother]

Will she turn up to meetings? She heads the government and she hardly ever turns up to parliament or cabinet meetings.

[KKvampire]

"To cope with any flood, the government would also organise a "grand rehearsal" in August.

Can't wait to see how they do that, a sort of "dummy run" by... ermmm..

Will she turn up to meetings? She heads the government and she hardly ever turns up to parliament or cabinet meetings.

Oh yes she'll turn up for these, Great photo op to show she is "doing something"

Edited January 31, 2012 by KKvampire

[Buchholz]

"To cope with any flood, the government would also organise a "grand rehearsal" in August.

Can't wait to see how they do that, a sort of "dummy run" by... ermmm..

She tears up... on demand.

.

[Greer]

Rather unfortunate timing for the lead picture...

[Ricardo]

So who will she actually delegate this new job to, surely not Deputy-PM Super-Chalerm, yet again ?

He's got more hats than a super-sized hat-shop, that just received a year's supply of new hats in one delivery, to avoid the next floods !

Edited January 31, 2012 by Ricardo

[Moruya]

PM Yingluck to head new flood agency

Run to the hills!!!!

[Buchholz]

So who will she actually delegate this new job to, surely not Deputy-PM Super-Chalerm, yet again ?

He's got more hats than a super-sized hat-shop, that just received a year's supply of new hats in one delivery, to avoid the next floods !

Because his boat plan worked so well, my choice to lead the new FROC are the capable hands of Science Minister Plodprasop.

.

Edited January 31, 2012 by Buchholz

[pimay11]

With the decisive leadership of PM Yingluck and the previously demonstrated ability of FROC to make snap decisions to controll flooding we have nothing to worry about. I feel so much better now.

[REM]

Grand rehearsal. I guess so she teach everyone to run away as good as she does!

[Payboy]

Yingluck to head new flood agency

There's going to be a new flood already?

[gl555]

Not surprised really. There's really no one in her big brother picked cabinet that is qualified to do anything. Might as well head it herself. I would suggest keeping your sandbags, more floods are incoming with this idiot 'heading' the agency.

[spidermike007]

What this announcement means, is that multinational companies WILL start exiting Thailand soon. This news is very alarming. Why not have a competent person lead this important committee?

[animatic]

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will chair a new agency set up soon to oversee an integrated plan for national water management.

This is reassuring as her first effort at national water management worked so well...

Felonious Racketeers Organizing Contracts

Edited January 31, 2012 by animatic

[Buchholz]

I can tell you that many foreign companies based at the massive High-Tec manufacturing complex near Ayutthaya/Rojana are not investing money in rebuilding and replacing in plant and machinery because they have no confidence in government preventing more flooding and haven't seen any viable plans, some have or are relocating to industrial areas near Rayong and others have just closed down their operations.

Now comes word that the 15 Billion Baht that Yingluck's government was going to loan to multi-national companies to rebuild... has turned into a gift.

2/3 of the 15,000,000,000.00 Baht taxpayer money will now be given away as a "grant" and the

remaining 1/3 of the 15,000,000,000.00 Baht taxpayer money will be a "soft loan" at an almost zero percent interest rate (0.01%) and a 15-year repayment.

.

Edited January 31, 2012 by Buchholz

[whybother]

Marine Department to dredge main rivers to facilitate water flow

BANGKOK, 31 January 2012 (NNT) - The Marine Department is prepared to dredge the Chao Phraya and other main rivers to facilitate the flow of water to the sea in order to improve water management to prevent possible flood and drought.

According to Marine Department Director-General Tawanrat Onsira, the Department will dredge the Chao Phraya, Ta Chin, and Bang Pakong Rivers at the points that are less than one meter deep to make them around two meters deep; at the cost of 277 million baht. Mr Tawanrat hopes that the dredging will increase the amount of water flowing by around 500 cubic meters per second.

Additionally, the Department will spend 1.2 billion baht on dredging and rehabilitating rivers across the country, and another 900 million baht on expanding the width and depth of the Chao Phraya and Yom Rivers to enable them to release water to dams faster.

As for the problems of people encroaching on canals in Bangkok, the Department said that most people did not trespass the canal areas. Rather, the water has eroded the soil around the canals. Concerning people encroaching on the waterways of the Chao Phraya River, Mr Tawanrat said it was not a criminal offence; the authority could only charge them with civil offences, but it had to integrate with many agencies to find new places for those people.

-- NNT 2012-01-31

[ratcatcher]

So far 20 posts and no one yet standing up to defend P.M.Yingluck and her band of merry men. Sounds like a different movie, same cast.

Roll up! Roll up! Not to be missed

Coming to Bangkok,Thailand August 2012, the most exciting, the most informative GRAND FLOOD REHEARSAL.

Complete with hundreds of experts, thousands of boats, helicopter rescue demonstrations, swimming lessons and sandbag lifting contests.

Grand prizes including the latest in fashionable Burberry life jackets, boots & water wear, hot air balloon rides and dinners with the Science Minister.

Fun for one & all.

A dam good time guaranteed or our money back.

[KKvampire]

I can tell you that many foreign companies based at the massive High-Tec manufacturing complex near Ayutthaya/Rojana are not investing money in rebuilding and replacing in plant and machinery because they have no confidence in government preventing more flooding and haven't seen any viable plans, some have or are relocating to industrial areas near Rayong and others have just closed down their operations.

Now comes word that the 15 Billion Baht that Yingluck's government was going to loan to multi-national companies to rebuild... has turned into a gift.

2/3 of the 15,000,000,000.00 Baht taxpayer money will now be given away as a "grant" and the

remaining 1/3 of the 15,000,000,000.00 Baht taxpayer money will be a "soft loan" at an almost zero percent interest rate (0.01%) and a 15-year repayment.

.

absolutely crazy, Better to give the money to the workers earning 6-8 thousand baht a month in the factories.

[bendejo]

Is this a joke?

It's like the guy who was mayor of New Orleans when Katrina happened, who turned a disaster into a compound disaster, now hiring himself out as an expert in disaster management.

Can't wait to see how they do that, a sort of "dummy run" ...

Talking about running for re-election already?

Edited January 31, 2012 by bendejo

[kirk0233]

One very simple task the PM could complete is lower the water level in the dams. Currently many of Thailand's dams are holding more water than this same time last year. I recall the PM mentioned part of her flood management strategy was to not allow the capacity of any dam to exceed 50%. Mae Kuang in Chiang Mai is 103% of storage capacity while Bhumibol is 91% of storage capacity. Last year this time Bhumibol was just 60% of storage capacity.

[slapout]

Grants/soft loans to multi nationalcompanies who suffered during the floods,. Wonder how much is owned by Thai's and where they fit into the system?

The PM is assuming so many hats, following big brothers example??? that a repeat of the past is becoming more likely, in more ways than one.

The statements, plans, ideas being thrown out by this bunch gives raise to what is in the water they are drinking? It may be, they need to dilute what they are drinking with water.

[Old Man River]

Is this a joke?

It's like the guy who was mayor of New Orleans when Katrina happened, who turned a disaster into a compound disaster, now hiring himself out as an expert in disaster management.

Can't wait to see how they do that, a sort of "dummy run" ...

Talking about running for re-election already?

She is not hiring herself out as an expert. She is taking responsibility for what might happen in the future. How many politicians do you know who will do this?

Remember, Thaksin has always been big on foreign investment. It is where the money is.

[Ricardo]

So far 20 posts and no one yet standing up to defend P.M.Yingluck and her band of merry men. Sounds like a different movie, same cast.

Roll up! Roll up! Not to be missed

Coming to Bangkok,Thailand August 2012, the most exciting, the most informative GRAND FLOOD REHEARSAL.

Complete with hundreds of experts, thousands of boats, helicopter rescue demonstrations, swimming lessons and sandbag lifting contests.

Grand prizes including the latest in fashionable Burberry life jackets, boots & water wear, hot air balloon rides and dinners with the Science Minister.

Fun for one & all.

A dam good time guaranteed or our money back.

Perhaps this should be announced, as a 3-month public-holiday, to permit everyone to participate ?

[OzMick]

Cry me a river.........

[philw]

Love it, 27 completely stupid negative posts, critical of a government trying to do something.

Hope you guys never get wet feet, we'd never hear the end of it.

[Mosha]

So far 20 posts and no one yet standing up to defend P.M.Yingluck and her band of merry men. Sounds like a different movie, same cast.

Roll up! Roll up! Not to be missed

Coming to Bangkok,Thailand August 2012, the most exciting, the most informative GRAND FLOOD REHEARSAL.

Complete with hundreds of experts, thousands of boats, helicopter rescue demonstrations, swimming lessons and sandbag lifting contests.

Grand prizes including the latest in fashionable Burberry life jackets, boots & water wear, hot air balloon rides and dinners with the Science Minister.

Fun for one & all.

A dam good time guaranteed or our money back.

They had the rehearsal last year. It taught them you can't burn down a flooded city.

[Mosha]

Is this a joke?

It's like the guy who was mayor of New Orleans when Katrina happened, who turned a disaster into a compound disaster, now hiring himself out as an expert in disaster management.

Can't wait to see how they do that, a sort of "dummy run" ...

Talking about running for re-election already?

She is not hiring herself out as an expert. She is taking responsibility for what might happen in the future. How many politicians do you know who will do this?

Remember, Thaksin has always been big on foreign investment. It is where the money is.

So then the buck will stop where? Keep her away from the floods her tears will make it worse.