What's Being Done To Stop Another Massive Deluge?: Thai Editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

What's being done to stop another massive deluge?

The Nation

The government's big talk about flood-prevention measures seems to have dissipated even though the monsoon season has already begun

BANGKOK: -- The rainy season is upon us, but the government has yet to feel the urgency, even though last year's massive flood disaster is still fresh in the memory.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the largest grouping of local industrialists, earlier this year expressed its disappointment over the progress of the government's flood-prevention programme. During a recent seminar organised by Bangchak Petroleum and our sister newspaper Krungthep Turakij, FTI vice-president Tanit Sorat said, "We have doubts about the government's measures to prevent flooding this year because many construction works still face delays, especially the dykes to prevent floodwater inundating industrial parks."

Some scientists predict that drought, not floods, will pose a more serious problem for Thailand this year. But this should not be an excuse for the government to buy more time. The comment from the private sector is not surprising. In fact, it just adds to the calls for the government to take firm and quick action.

But it seems that the sense of urgency has been lost, compared to the sentiment of only a few months ago, when a series of flood-prevention projects were announced. Many experts were enthusiastic about offering their views on how to solve the problem. But after the water subsided at the end of last year, the enthusiasm from the government seemed to die down.

The projects have not been re-prioritised in response to the topography of Thailand. The government and its agencies are still focused on road construction. Over the past 12 months, water-related projects have seen only one-tenth of the investment put into road construction.

Royol Chitdon, director of the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, says the government needs to spend more on construction to prevent floods. The maintenance regime for waterways is not as active as inland infrastructure.

The private sector believes the government has lost the race to prevent another flooding crisis. Thailand managed to quickly recover from the last disaster largely because of cooperation between the private sector and civil-society groups. Companies and volunteers helped to reduce the impact on flood victims by providing emergency support and post-flood relief measures. Many companies have provided task forces to help clean up homes and businesses damaged by the floodwater. Many take good care of their employees.

The assistance measures from the government, meanwhile, have turned out to be inefficient because they focus more on cash give-aways. These have been a source of controversy, as is evident in the recent protest in Pathum Thani province.

While the medium-term prevention measures are yet to be finalised, the long-term measures have yet to materialise. During last autumn's crisis, experts were talking about how new property developments had obstructed natural waterways. All seemed to agree that the best solution for Thailand is to co-exist with water. There was talk about the construction of floodways to allow excess water from the northern reservoirs to flow to the sea. But none of that has materialised. Little has been done to restore public confidence. Few people feel the government has put in place the necessary measures to prevent more flooding.

In fact, the government needs to prepare a more integrated platform to cope with various natural disasters and take concrete steps to put a plan of action into place. After all, Thailand is prone to various natural disasters, not only flooding but also tsunamis and earthquakes. It's time that the government took this issue seriously in order to restore the confidence of the public and investors alike.

-- The Nation 2012-06-21

[alfalfa19]

Did not Prime Minister Yingluck promise that there would be no floods in the coming year? Methinks that should be good enough for everybody.

[dude007]

very good article. Perfect reporting! Finally, it is made clear that our newest flood mitigation expert in Burberry outfit has failed [again]. The handouts will have to hide her failure as we have seen before from big brother-in-the-desert. In these populist measures she is quickly learning!

Poor PTP ... poor PM: you have not even understood the core of the real problem: evacuate water to the sea!

[Ned]

More and more roads and industrial parks......Cover the land with concrete. Oh it's flooding. Fancy that!

[Moruya]

Messrs Chitdon and Sorat have way too much common sense.

If they worked for THAI they would be out on their ears!

[Skywalker69]

Did not Prime Minister Yingluck promise that there would be no floods in the coming year? Methinks that should be good enough for everybody.

Not for me it isn´t.

[Skywalker69]

The government's big talk about flood-prevention measures seems to have dissipated even though the monsoon season has already begun

As have all the other election promises.

[Chupup]

Once again we see the ineficent Thai Government (ptp pardon taxin party ) at work, it was said by many posters before that

when the water is gone all urgency will go to which has happend, take the yingluck aproach and Hide from reality, if i cannot see the water there will be no flood, King Canute told the sea tide to stop, it didn't, neither will the floodwater, WAKE-UP do as much as you can while the water is under control maybe then it will not flood, ignore it at your peril !!! but, TIT so Nothing will get done and the people will suffer again, BTW we are STILL waiting for the COMPENSATION from the last time, as i supose are MANY others, so much for the Government promise, Less Talk More Action.

[puipuitom]

The Thais did just as much as after the floods of 1942 and 1995: go in temple and light candles. As in the many centuries before, as Thais cannot make a planning one day after "prung nee".

I come from a country half under the sea and river levels: Netherlands. We here started to build dikes already in Roman times, 2000 years ago, with the real construction process around 1050. In 1143 our dikes boulders were asked to do the same in what is now the area around Bremen and Hamburg.

No foreign powder pressesd the present government upon the Thais, so it is their own responsability. Next time, when you sell your vote for a 20 or even 50 THB, think of the damage these elected crooks could to to YOUR tax miney

[khaowong1]

Not sure what to say about this.. this subject has been beat to death. Build an ark maybe? It rains in Thailand.. Sometimes very heavy rain. It's called a monsoon. Water usually flows to the lowest level. Which in Thailands case, is the sea. Simple concept. If the sea level and the land level is approximately the same, the water is going to stand still. If the land isn't saturated, the water will be absorbed by the land. If it is saturated, it will stand until it can evaporate. Now if you don't want the whole country flooded, you have to divise a way for the water to flow to the sea. Or into a holding pond where it will evaporate or be used for irrigation farming. Or, you can create a Thai version of Venice.. gondola's etc. I can see it now, the Thai gondola mafia. :-)

[lungmi]

The Thais did just as much as after the floods of 1942 and 1995: go in temple and light candles. As in the many centuries before, as Thais cannot make a planning one day after "prung nee".

I come from a country half under the sea and river levels: Netherlands. We here started to build dikes already in Roman times, 2000 years ago, with the real construction process around 1050. In 1143 our dikes boulders were asked to do the same in what is now the area around Bremen and Hamburg.

No foreign powder pressesd the present government upon the Thais, so it is their own responsability. Next time, when you sell your vote for a 20 or even 50 THB, think of the damage these elected crooks could to to YOUR tax miney

To continue: The Rhine is now "domesticated". Swiss, German and Dutch specialists developped an international system to control the water coming from the thawing period or big rains. Small Monkey cheeks, small flexible dams in meanders or branches, connected by computer supervision. And: as a big miracle we have king salmons in some meanders of the Old Rhine.

[JohnAllan]

Quote: 'Few people feel the government has put in place the necessary measures to prevent more flooding.'

Feel represents an emotion, or a sense, and has nothing to with fact. Either the government has put in place such measures, or it hasn't. Seemingly, it hasn't!

The problem is that the government, with all its hype and arrogance, proved totally inept in the face of last year's flooding. And nothing it has said, or done, since suggests this year will find it any better prepared. Or any less inept.

[JohnAllan]

The Thais did just as much as after the floods of 1942 and 1995: go in temple and light candles. As in the many centuries before, as Thais cannot make a planning one day after "prung nee".

I come from a country half under the sea and river levels: Netherlands. We here started to build dikes already in Roman times, 2000 years ago, with the real construction process around 1050. In 1143 our dikes boulders were asked to do the same in what is now the area around Bremen and Hamburg.

No foreign powder pressesd the present government upon the Thais, so it is their own responsability. Next time, when you sell your vote for a 20 or even 50 THB, think of the damage these elected crooks could to to YOUR tax miney

What tax money? Pretty well none of Pheu Thai's supporters pays any personal tax.

Edited June 21, 2012 by JohnAllan

[hellodolly]

Quote: 'Few people feel the government has put in place the necessary measures to prevent more flooding.'

Feel represents an emotion, or a sense, and has nothing to with fact. Either the government has put in place such measures, or it hasn't. Seemingly, it hasn't!

The problem is that the government, with all its hype and arrogance, proved totally inept in the face of last year's flooding. And nothing it has said, or done, since suggests this year will find it any better prepared. Or any less inept.

You are correct but here in Thailand feel means more than fact. That is why Thaksin has been able to fool the public. He gives nothing but makes the people feel like he is there only hope.

[Skywalker69]

Quote: 'Few people feel the government has put in place the necessary measures to prevent more flooding.'

Feel represents an emotion, or a sense, and has nothing to with fact. Either the government has put in place such measures, or it hasn't. Seemingly, it hasn't!

The problem is that the government, with all its hype and arrogance, proved totally inept in the face of last year's flooding. And nothing it has said, or done, since suggests this year will find it any better prepared. Or any less inept.

You are correct but here in Thailand feel means more than fact. That is why Thaksin has been able to fool the public. He gives nothing but makes the people feel like he is there only hope.

Agreed hallodolly. Were is the water pumps he bought for his own money, from South Korea?

[billd766]

Quote: 'Few people feel the government has put in place the necessary measures to prevent more flooding.'

Feel represents an emotion, or a sense, and has nothing to with fact. Either the government has put in place such measures, or it hasn't. Seemingly, it hasn't!

The problem is that the government, with all its hype and arrogance, proved totally inept in the face of last year's flooding. And nothing it has said, or done, since suggests this year will find it any better prepared. Or any less inept.

You are correct but here in Thailand feel means more than fact. That is why Thaksin has been able to fool the public. He gives nothing but makes the people feel like he is there only hope.

Agreed hallodolly. Were is the water pumps he bought for his own money, from South Korea?

Still at customs awaiting the tea money payment.

[h90]

Quote: 'Few people feel the government has put in place the necessary measures to prevent more flooding.'

Feel represents an emotion, or a sense, and has nothing to with fact. Either the government has put in place such measures, or it hasn't. Seemingly, it hasn't!

The problem is that the government, with all its hype and arrogance, proved totally inept in the face of last year's flooding. And nothing it has said, or done, since suggests this year will find it any better prepared. Or any less inept.

You are correct but here in Thailand feel means more than fact. That is why Thaksin has been able to fool the public. He gives nothing but makes the people feel like he is there only hope.

Agreed hallodolly. Were is the water pumps he bought for his own money, from South Korea?

I never heard "his own money" I only heard something well spoken that let everyone think it is his money.