Academics Blame Last Year's Crisis On Thai Govt's Failure To Set Clear Policies: Flood

[webfact]

Academics blame last year's crisis on govt's failure to set clear policies

SURIYAN PANYAWAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Academics have cited a failure at the policy level as one of the major reasons why the country has been unable to prevent or reduce the adverse impacts of last year's flood crisis.

Professor Dr Panithan Lakkunaprasit, an expert on seismic activity from Chulalongkorn University who took part in the "Crisis Management for Natural Disasters" seminar held yesterday, said the United Nations had named last year's inundation as one of the world's greatest floods. Panithan blamed the disaster on the government's failure in setting clear policies.

"After studying the situation, we came up with solutions, such as digging up a canal or Chao Phraya 2 in order to divert floods. But our ideas have never been implemented. Also the state has been turning a blind eye to the encroachment on waterways and canals that have been exacerbating the situation," he said.

Floods, accidents, explosions, tropical storms and droughts are the top five disasters in Thailand, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director-general Montri Chanachaiwiboonwat said, adding that his department had mapped out measures to mitigate adverse impacts. The measures include setting up a flood-prevention centre; installing a forecasting and warning system; establishing a communication system; setting up a database on material, equipment and personnel; increasing public understanding; and getting the public and private sectors to cooperate. The department also has a 10-year action plan to reduce risk and impact of natural disasters.

He said his department had been granted Bt3.9 billion from the 2012 fiscal budget, which is 0.037 per cent of the gross domestic product or Bt58.48 per person.

Other than getting regularly flooded, Bangkok - which is located on soft soil - is prone to land subsidence and earthquakes, Panithan said, adding that more than a million buildings in the city had to be reinforced to withstand the impact of earthquakes. Since it is almost impossible to reinforce all these buildings, the government should instead focus on important structures such as schools, hospitals, power plants, expressways and flyovers.

"The earthquake in Haiti has proved that countries with buildings that are not built to withstand earthquakes are doomed for devastation,'' he said.

Dr Supaporn Phokaew, a lecturer from Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communication Arts, said keeping the public updated was of the utmost importance in mitigating the adverse impact of natural disaster. For instance, the 2006 tsunami made people understand that natural disasters do not stick to borders. "The media has to point out how, for instance, an earthquake in neighbouring countries can affect our country,'' she said.

-- The Nation 2012-10-04

[Skywalker69]

"After studying the situation, we came up with solutions, such as digging up a canal or Chao Phraya 2 in order to divert floods. But our ideas have never been implemented. Also the state has been turning a blind eye to the encroachment on waterways and canals that have been exacerbating the situation," he said.

The Government used boats to push the water down towards the sea instead, brilliant.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Academics blame last year's crisis on govt's failure to set clear policies

what policies? they were running around like headless chickens most of the time.

[asiawatcher]

Everything the dear professor highlights is reasonable to assume. Practicality may be a lot different, but as they have already thrown so much money at it, where are the results other than assumptions from academics, which are obviously 'very' expensive...

[sjjmmi]

Amazing Thailand spot on this year

[hellodolly]

"After studying the situation, we came up with solutions, such as digging up a canal or Chao Phraya 2 in order to divert floods. But our ideas have never been implemented. Also the state has been turning a blind eye to the encroachment on waterways and canals that have been exacerbating the situation," he said.

The Government used boats to push the water down towards the sea instead, brilliant.

They also came up with a one hundred mile tunnel ten miles deep.

[hellodolly]

In reality it has been every government this country has ever had that has failed to set up and enforce guidelines.The current government seems to be focusing on preventing floods in one place. Bangkok a city that is sinking and sitting right next to a sea that is rising.

To be honest it is not completely the Thai government at fault. The corruption at city and municipal levels has added to the problem as well as out and out stupidity. The Thai Government was very guilty of spending flood relief money by putting it into certain peoples closets pockets.

Here in Chiang Mai are two recent floods have been caused by opening dam's when the river was all ready high and the rains were coming down. The first time they did not even bother to tell people the second time they gave a three day notice.

Last year the Thai Government withheld releasing water from a dam until after a major rice farmer had his crops in. Not sure but I think the owner lives in Dubai.

Edited October 4, 2012 by hellodolly

[ResX]

In reality it has been every government this country has ever had that has failed to set up and enforce guidelines.The current government seems to be focusing on preventing floods in one place. Bangkok a city that is sinking and sitting right next to a sea that is rising.

To be honest it is not completely the Thai government at fault. The corruption at city and municipal levels has added to the problem as well as out and out stupidity. The Thai Government was very guilty of spending flood relief money by putting it into certain peoples closets pockets.

Here in Chiang Mai are two recent floods have been caused by opening dam's when the river was all ready high and the rains were coming down. The first time they did not even bother to tell people the second time they gave a three day notice.

Last year the Thai Government withheld releasing water from a dam until after a major rice farmer had his crops in. Not sure but I think the owner lives in Dubai.

It is very bad thing to do by a dam operator to release water that can cause flood downstream. Very very bad. If he does this thing I think he should be sent for intensive course about how to operate a dam.

I'm so sorry for you but I have to tell you this. If he did that you might not know the worst case scenario for the flood downstream to his dam. Ingorence kills.

[DocN]

Does GOVT stand for Government or also for Govenor?

Because I seem to recall, that he wasn't a light in the darkest hours, exactly.

[billd766]

In reality it has been every government this country has ever had that has failed to set up and enforce guidelines.The current government seems to be focusing on preventing floods in one place. Bangkok a city that is sinking and sitting right next to a sea that is rising.

To be honest it is not completely the Thai government at fault. The corruption at city and municipal levels has added to the problem as well as out and out stupidity. The Thai Government was very guilty of spending flood relief money by putting it into certain peoples closets pockets.

Here in Chiang Mai are two recent floods have been caused by opening dam's when the river was all ready high and the rains were coming down. The first time they did not even bother to tell people the second time they gave a three day notice.

Last year the Thai Government withheld releasing water from a dam until after a major rice farmer had his crops in. Not sure but I think the owner lives in Dubai.

Actually I think the owner lives in Suphan Buri and has the initials B S A

[Gweiloman]

In reality it has been every government this country has ever had that has failed to set up and enforce guidelines.The current government seems to be focusing on preventing floods in one place. Bangkok a city that is sinking and sitting right next to a sea that is rising.

To be honest it is not completely the Thai government at fault. The corruption at city and municipal levels has added to the problem as well as out and out stupidity. The Thai Government was very guilty of spending flood relief money by putting it into certain peoples closets pockets.

Here in Chiang Mai are two recent floods have been caused by opening dam's when the river was all ready high and the rains were coming down. The first time they did not even bother to tell people the second time they gave a three day notice.

Last year the Thai Government withheld releasing water from a dam until after a major rice farmer had his crops in. Not sure but I think the owner lives in Dubai.

Was about to (horror of horrors) "like" your post, except that you had to show your bias once again with your last sentence. Incidentally, do you make this comment as a statement of fact or just your usual anti-T stance?

[Arkady]

"After studying the situation, we came up with solutions, such as digging up a canal or Chao Phraya 2 in order to divert floods. But our ideas have never been implemented. Also the state has been turning a blind eye to the encroachment on waterways and canals that have been exacerbating the situation," he said.

The Government used boats to push the water down towards the sea instead, brilliant.

These are all great ideas but voters need to understand that the priority of the government is staying in power to prevent undemocratic things happening, such as convictions of politicians for corruption. In order to stay in power the government needs to keep politicians happy to avoid devastating defections like that of Newin. The only way to keep them happy is to facilitate their corruption on a massive scale using rapid pay out schemes like the rice pledging and the emergency budget for flood prevention. That reinforces the need to use more corruption to stay in power and so it goes on ad infinitum. The government would love to have the time and money to address issues such as genuine flood prevention and improvement of rice farmers' yields but that is simply not practical.

[tragickingdom]

It is truly amazing that a country with such a dismal education system and so such academic standards have so many academics that are take seriously by the press. I would advice Thai academics to go to work and increase their own performance to at least Cambodian standards.

[diehard60]

I really hate saying this, but I think the academics should really do what they are trained for. Teach and improve the Thai education system not get involved with government pollocies that are not deally with education.

[khunken]

It is truly amazing that a country with such a dismal education system and so such academic standards have so many academics that are take seriously by the press. I would advice Thai academics to go to work and increase their own performance to at least Cambodian standards.

Yes and that certainly does apply to the Nithirat crowd.

[rixalex]

It is truly amazing that a country with such a dismal education system and so such academic standards have so many academics that are take seriously by the press. I would advice Thai academics to go to work and increase their own performance to at least Cambodian standards.

As a general rule of thumb, i like the people who advise me, after having insulted me, be able to spell the word, but perhaps Thai academics are different...

[SICHONSTEVE]

Does GOVT stand for Government or also for Govenor?

Because I seem to recall, that he wasn't a light in the darkest hours, exactly.

How many T's in governor????

[Baerboxer]

It is truly amazing that a country with such a dismal education system and so such academic standards have so many academics that are take seriously by the press. I would advice Thai academics to go to work and increase their own performance to at least Cambodian standards.

You have sound research to back up your assertions that the level of academic standards and education is higher in Cambodia than Thailand do you?

[Baerboxer]

I really hate saying this, but I think the academics should really do what they are trained for. Teach and improve the Thai education system not get involved with government pollocies that are not deally with education.

Academics = research = improvements. Not all about teaching. Get it?

[Thai at Heart]

Other than getting regularly flooded, Bangkok - which is located on soft soil - is prone to land subsidence and earthquakes, Panithan said, adding that more than a million buildings in the city had to be reinforced to withstand the impact of earthquakes. Since it is almost impossible to reinforce all these buildings, the government should instead focus on important structures such as schools, hospitals, power plants, expressways and flyovers.

The measures include setting up a flood-prevention centre; installing a forecasting and warning system; establishing a communication system; setting up a database on material, equipment and personnel; increasing public understanding; and getting the public and private sectors to cooperate

Establish communications?, install a flood prevention centre? Strewth, they need an academic to work this out?

And I presume this so called academic continues to live in Bangkok. I wonder if he consulted on the construction of his department building because according to him it should be on stilts, fitted with stabilisers and capable of withstanding a 7 shock on the richter. I sometimes what is the point in these so called "academics"? They sit in the corner grumbling to themselves, while absolutely no one pays them any attention what so ever, and then come out of the woodwork to state 'Told you so'. If they weren't Thai, some of the contributors on TV would be telling them, if you don't like it, leave.

They are paid to be learned, are given positions of considerable (and often misplaced) respect, see catastrophe developing in front of them and do precisely NOTHING about it. Yes build a giant canal, a very nice out of the box idea, which would take at least 20 years to complete, drag millions of people through compulsory purchase and all the other issues.

Just about every statement made in this article can be easily found on the internet, so I really don't see the point in them whatsoever.