Royol, Head Of Key Water-Resource Panel Quits, Denies Rifts: Thailand

[webfact]

Head of key water-resource panel quits, denies rifts

JUTARAT THIPNUMPA

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- One of the government's most prominent scientific advisers, Royol Jitdon, has tendered his resignation from a subcommittee tasked with analysing and allocating water resources.

The move raises concerns that the country's water-management plans and development of a water database will be disrupted.

Royol yesterday said simply that his resignation was intended to allow an accurate evaluation of the subcommittee's performance.

"A proper evaluation will lead to changes or improvements," he said without elaborating.

Royal chaired the subcommittee, which is under the supervision of the Water and Flood Management Commission.

Royol had played a prominent role on the subcommittee since it was established in May. He spearheaded water-drainage tests in Bangkok and efforts to curtail the impact of Tropical Storm Gaemi. He also spoke up in defence of the government's water-management policies on many occasions.

However, his credibility has recently been called into question, with some water experts describing Royol as more of a mathematician than a water guru.

Royol yesterday denied having conflicts with anyone or detecting any flaw in the government's water-management plans.

"It's just that the water situation has returned to normal. Aside from this, my resignation will allow capable people to step in and contribute to the country's water management," he said.

Royol said he would focus on his work at the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute (HAII), where he serves as director.

"I have much business to tend to at the HAII," he said.

An informed source said the government's trust in Royol had led to the approval of 14 projects aimed at facilitating the development of a national water database. These projects, the source said, required a budget of Bt1.98 billion. Nine of the projects will be overseen by the HAII.

One of the important missions of the HAII is to set up a National Water Database Centre, which will integrate water and weather information from all relevant agencies such as the Royal Irrigation Department, the Meteorological Department, the Hydrographic Department and the Mineral Resources Department.

Some observers suggested Royol's resignation from the government-appointed subcommittee could be a sign of problems at the heart of the country's water-management apparatus.

-- The Nation 2012-11-09

[MaxLee]

Royol, taking the hasty exit and saving face... Let the water mismanagement continue

[jerrysteve]

NO one "Quits" unless there is a RIFT between OPPOSING FACTIONS.

[Crushdepth]

Royol, taking the hasty exit and saving face... Let the water mismanagement continue

Actually this guy really knows his stuff and is quite competent. I suspect his resignation has more to do with getting fed up dealing with the stupidity of others.

Edited November 9, 2012 by Crushdepth

[Pimay1]

Royol, taking the hasty exit and saving face... Let the water mismanagement continue

Actually this guy really knows his stuff and is quite competent. I suspect his resignation has more to do with getting fed up dealing with the stupidity of others.

Totally agree. I'll drink to that.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Some observers suggested Royol's resignation from the government-appointed subcommittee could be a sign of problems at the heart of the country's water-management apparatus.

WHAT "water-management apparatus"??????

Meanwhile, the guy from HAII obviously accomplished his job on the government subcommittee in the best tradition of Thai govt. service...

An informed source said the government's trust in Royol had led to the approval of 14 projects aimed at facilitating the development of a national water database. These projects, the source said, required a budget of Bt1.98 billion. Nine of the projects will be overseen by the HAII.

[ratcatcher]

DROUGHT

a word we will be seeing more of over the coming months.

[Tatsujin]

Is this finally someone here with some principles?

[bigbamboo]

Rifts and water management are not a good combination.

[Bagwan]

Forget all about rifts; we have no influence in water management matters and we should merely bystand as the children squabble. I suggest the more proactive thinkers are already thinking rafts.

[OzMick]

I liked the idea of floating houses - they will make it much easier for villagers to move to Bangkok.

[Thai at Heart]

Royol, taking the hasty exit and saving face... Let the water mismanagement continue

Actually this guy really knows his stuff and is quite competent. I suspect his resignation has more to do with getting fed up dealing with the stupidity of others.

But he still endorsed the "water pushing machines".

[Crushdepth]

Some observers suggested Royol's resignation from the government-appointed subcommittee could be a sign of problems at the heart of the country's water-management apparatus.

WHAT "water-management apparatus"??????

Meanwhile, the guy from HAII obviously accomplished his job on the government subcommittee in the best tradition of Thai govt. service...

An informed source said the government's trust in Royol had led to the approval of 14 projects aimed at facilitating the development of a national water database. These projects, the source said, required a budget of Bt1.98 billion. Nine of the projects will be overseen by the HAII.

Well, he does run the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute. They do have a mandate for this sort of thing, and in terms of technical capacity and modeling they are light years ahead of other government agencies.

Edited November 9, 2012 by Crushdepth

[asiawatcher]

I presume he has a moe lucrative offer... no one 'quits' these portfolios unless the motivation (read - incentives) takes them to another level.

[Thai at Heart]

I presume he has a moe lucrative offer... no one 'quits' these portfolios unless the motivation (read - incentives) takes them to another level.

Don't tell me an international organization wants to employ a Thai hydrologist after last years debacle?

They are all bored now, no floods to solve. Drought is so boring. Where is plodprasop recently, very quiet and no daily laugh.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Meanwhile, the guy from HAII obviously accomplished his job on the government subcommittee in the best tradition of Thai govt. service...

An informed source said the government's trust in Royol had led to the approval of 14 projects aimed at facilitating the development of a national water database. These projects, the source said, required a budget of Bt1.98 billion. Nine of the projects will be overseen by the HAII.

Well, he does run the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute. They do have a mandate for this sort of thing, and in terms of technical capacity and modeling they are light years ahead of other government agencies.

Please repeat after me... slowly.... CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!!

[Crushdepth]

Meanwhile, the guy from HAII obviously accomplished his job on the government subcommittee in the best tradition of Thai govt. service...

An informed source said the government's trust in Royol had led to the approval of 14 projects aimed at facilitating the development of a national water database. These projects, the source said, required a budget of Bt1.98 billion. Nine of the projects will be overseen by the HAII.

Well, he does run the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute. They do have a mandate for this sort of thing, and in terms of technical capacity and modeling they are light years ahead of other government agencies.

Please repeat after me... slowly.... CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!!

Hello, he's the government guy who has the responsibility to deal with this stuff. It's not like its going into his own pocket. It's his job.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Actually, HAII didn't start out as a government organization, but apparently became one starting in 2009.

http://www.haii.or.th/haiiweb/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=94&Itemid=95〈=en

That said, it's common practice here in Thailand for agency/department or organization heads to take an under-the-table cut of contract proceeds, as has been oft recounted here in the news reports section.

I wasn't questioning his/their technical capacity, though others certainly have as the OP article notes. But I was questioning the transparency of the guy doing consulting work that results in recommendations for his agency to receive probably more than $1 billion baht in government contract awards.

You don't think some of that is going to find its way into his coffers?

[MaxLee]

I presume he has a moe lucrative offer... no one 'quits' these portfolios unless the motivation (read - incentives) takes them to another level.

Don't tell me an international organization wants to employ a Thai hydrologist after last years debacle?

They are all bored now, no floods to solve. Drought is so boring. Where is plodprasop recently, very quiet and no daily laugh.

Plodprasop? Oh, didn't he mention he plans to build a Newclear reactor in Thailand a while ago???