Floodwalls Around Thailand's Industrial Estates 'Could Worsen Situation'

[webfact]

Floodwalls 'could worsen situation'

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Stop Global Warming Association (SGWA) is threatening to take authorities to court if they go ahead with plans to encourage the construction of floodwalls around industrial estates.

"The plans will mean higher flood-water levels for people living near the industrial estates," SGWA president Srisuwan Janya said yesterday.

He said the permanent floodwalls would have serious social and environmental impacts because they would change the natural water-flow routes.

The Finance Ministry has supported the Government Savings Bank (GSB) scheme to offer soft loans for floodwall constructions to entrepreneurs whose factories are located along flood ways.

"Have the relevant authorities thought about people living nearby? Have they prepared appropriate remedial actions for people," Srisuwan said.

He told the authorities to listen to the voice of affected people otherwise they would proceed to court for help.

"The Constitution has prescribed public participation," Srisuwan said.

Noppadon Tiyajai, deputy secretary-general at Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, yesterday said the construction of floodwalls might not need environmental-impact assessments.

"But, of course, authorities will take into account the impact of the planned construction on local communities and ecology," he said.

At a seminar on "the King's Science of Resolving National Crisis", Pramote Maiklad - a former chief of the Royal Irrigation Department - lamented that the current government as well as many previous administrations had failed to follow HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej's initiatives in solving water-related problems for the country.

"His Majesty's initiatives in fact are very practical," Pramote said.

He said the key concepts were about efficient water-drainage systems, proper co-existence with nature, and moving settlements out of risky zones.

"The government needs to understand the nature and the social geography," Pramote said.

He said His Majesty had planned water management based on information he gathered firsthand during his trips to provinces.

"But today, many policy-makers are just looking at ceilings and doing the planning," Pramote said.

Pramote, who sits on the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management, was not impressed with the flood-prevention plan recently unveiled by Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee.

"This plan won't really help if the amount of water this year is as massive as the last one," Pramote pointed out.

The flood crisis hit the country hard last year, causing hundreds of deaths, ravaging many factories, and throwing the lives of millions in disarray.

Many parties both in the government and the private sectors are still struggling to fix the flood-caused damage.

Meanwhile, Japan yesterday handed over Bt200,000 in cash to Thailand for post-flood rehabilitation efforts.

-- The Nation 2012-02-03

[Katipo]

Why is this news? For all intents and purposes it appears the government isn't going to do anything anyway. Roll on the rainy season.

[anterian]

Bt200,000, Is that a joke or a cynical act?

[Moruya]

Bt200,000, Is that a joke or a cynical act?

It's a few more sandbags for 2012

[cloudhopper]

"But, of course, authorities will take into account the impact of the planned construction on local communities and ecology," he said.

Of course they will, just as they always have.

I doubt corporations will be flocking back to these places anytime soon.

[Buchholz]

Bt200,000, Is that a joke or a cynical act?

In view of Japan's GDP...

US$5,500,000,000,000 x 31 = 1.705 × 10¹⁴ Baht

I would think they are sending full disclosure of their confidence in "Thailand's post-flood rehabilitation efforts"

.

Edited February 3, 2012 by Buchholz

[wxyz]

"The plans will mean higher flood-water levels for people living near the industrial estates," SGWA president Srisuwan Janya said yesterday.

He said the permanent floodwalls would have serious social and environmental impacts because they would change the natural water-flow routes.

Well then, time to remove the 3 dams then as well. The owners have every right to protect their factory.

And it is in the best interests of Thailand and the Thai workers as well.

Edited February 3, 2012 by wxyz

[anterian]

Bt200,000, Is that a joke or a cynical act?

In view of Japan's GDP...

US$5,500,000,000,000 x 31 = 1.705 × 10¹⁴ Baht

I would think they are sending full disclosure of their confidence in "Thailand's post-flood rehabilitation efforts"

.

I was going to query your use of the word "efforts", but I guess talking counts as effort.

[Orac]

Why is this news? For all intents and purposes it appears the government isn't going to do anything anyway. Roll on the rainy season.

Feels like it has started early here in Pattaya - tipping it down again now and there was flash flooding all over yesterday. Considering February is suppose to have an average rainfall here of 2 cms (1 cm for Jan) I hope this is not signs of things to come.

[JSPS]

Maybe this would result in some people's homes being flooded. But at least they would have a job to go to.

It would also limit the economic destruction from flooding.

I can't see a big advantage to anyone from insuring that if anyone is flooded, everyone is flooded. Would it be better to have both homes and factories flooded rather than just homes?

[webfact]

related topic:

Thai Irrigation Dept Confident In Flood Preparation Despite Early Arrival Of Rainy Season

Full story:

[webfact]

ANTI-FLOOD MEASURES

Dam water to be released from May: Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....m-may-thailand/

[wxyz]

PM clone has it all under control, all is well.

Edited February 4, 2012 by wxyz