Petition Against Flood Barriers 'Bad For Investor Confidence, Communities': Thai Industries

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Petition 'bad for investor confidence, communities'

Nalin Viboonchart,

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The private sector is greatly concerned that the petition by a non-government organisation against the construction of flood barriers at 11 industrial estates will destroy investor confidence and have a negative impact not only on the industrial sector, but also on the surrounding communities.

Payungsak Chartsuthipol, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, yesterday said the lawsuit would damage investor confidence in the short term, as it would result in continued industrial uncertainty over flood-prevention measures.

He called on activists to consider reasonably the need for barrier development. Higher walls would protect not only industrial estates, but also the local communities, besides which they would secure employment for people in the areas.

"If the industrial estates were to be flooded again, it would have an impact not only for the plants in the estates, but also for the communities, since people would be unable to do any activities and trading would be affected," said Payungsak.

Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, chairperson of Bangkadi Industrial Park, one of the estates inundated late last year, said the construction of a dyke was necessary.

The park has asked for comments from villagers living nearby, and also has a plan to help those residents, she said. "The government does not guarantee to us that there will be no further flooding, while the flood-prevention plan remains clear. So, we have to do everything to protect our industrial park."

Kobkarn added that only 30 per cent of the flood-hit factories in Bangkadi Industrial Park had resumed operations.

Kajornsak Mahakunwan, adviser of Rojana Industrial Park, said that contrary to the claim by the Stop Global Warming Association, which yesterday filed a lawsuit against seven state agencies concerning plans for the industrial estates to proceed with flood-barrier construction, local villagers near its park had not complained about the impact that a dyke would have on them.

In fact, they have asked the park to accelerate construction, he said, adding that it has also had good support from villagers.

"We're confident that we can explain this fact to the Central Administrative Court," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-07

[mowgus]

The one thing I find odd about protecting the estates is the fact that they wouldn't be able to produce anything anyway. No trucks would be able to bring supplies in or products out. And, those employees wouldn't have homes to live in and would probably have to flee the area. I suppose it would protect the expensive machinery in the estates so that, once the flood waters recede, they could resume work. However, if I was a foreign investor I would see these walls as a small bandage for a gaping wound.

[slapout]

These flood barriers will divert water into the sourrounding area, thus they will become catchment zones, similar to the 2 million ria the government is looking for.Typical, each individual/group do what they see as benifical to them, without considering the impact on the neighbors.

Until prevention of the problem is properly addressed and implimented, they will continue a losing battle with the effects.

[MEL1]

I'd like to ask how these flood barriers are constructed exactly and, if indeed, they are capable of keeping massive surges out; be they from underground: road level: or 15ft high level, as Meung Ake experienced: or 20-25ft level of flood water, as Ayutthaya experienced.

Water of such magnitude as last year will find its way through any nook and cranny, creating larger and larger access points as it finds its natural path.

Are these barriers based upon, for example, Dutch advice and applicable knowledge; or are they just walls of concrete that might succumb to large water forces, or ill-built adjoining seals etc?

It's a genuine question, and one that begs a genuine answer.

-mel.

Can anybody enlighten me with regard to what is being proposed as a flood barrier, and its potential ability to withhold anything like what we experienced last year?

[Unkomoncents]

This lawsuit is predicated on an innately illogical request. This would be like trying to tell people that they shouldn't be able to drive small trucks, minivans or other larger vehicles (than the smalled available) because the added benefit of safety for the driver and passengers comes at the expense of the safety of other drivers/passengers on the road; oh, and I should add that the road is bumpy and poorly cared for and managed. If you can't protect yourself in an unpredictable, unstable environment like Thailand, why then would you do business here? There are tons of more stable, progressive investment climates (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, etc.) available where village logic is left out of administrative equations.

[hellodolly]

Seems to me that if they would prepare for housing and feeding of those who must abandon their homes in the face of a flood such as last year it would go along way to help the problem.

Also a fund be set up by the protected industries to reimburse the home owners for their full losses.

This fund would have to be separate and free of government.

Edited March 7, 2012 by hellodolly

[sparebox2]

Another one of those; make the rich happy, and suffer the poor. This is Thailand.

[thanchart]

The one thing I find odd about protecting the estates is the fact that they wouldn't be able to produce anything anyway. No trucks would be able to bring supplies in or products out. And, those employees wouldn't have homes to live in and would probably have to flee the area. I suppose it would protect the expensive machinery in the estates so that, once the flood waters recede, they could resume work. However, if I was a foreign investor I would see these walls as a small bandage for a gaping wound.

Do you think that companies which had resumed operations after the flooding would rebuild in the same way tney had done beorfe the floods? I think not (well, at least my company is not). The question is more would water get into the park and would there still be electricity (depends on water level)?.

There are ways and means to get people into the park if they are still operational; perhaps the same way we got materials out of the warehouses during the floods. Maybe there may be no more floating markets for a while, amongsts others. Many of my colleages still came to work (at another dry location) even though their homes wrere flooded. Their biggest worry was not their homes, but will they still have a job? For many in my company, we were lucky; the company survived the floods and are on the way to recovery, leaner but will be stronger. And mroe prepared for the next round, and we hope we will pass thru, God willing.

[TAWP]

The one thing I find odd about protecting the estates is the fact that they wouldn't be able to produce anything anyway. No trucks would be able to bring supplies in or products out. And, those employees wouldn't have homes to live in and would probably have to flee the area. I suppose it would protect the expensive machinery in the estates so that, once the flood waters recede, they could resume work. However, if I was a foreign investor I would see these walls as a small bandage for a gaping wound.

But they wouldn't lose equipment worth tens to hundred of millions of baht or more.