Commission Studies 5 Water Ministry Plans: Thailand

[webfact]

Commission studies 5 water ministry plans
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC) is studying five proposals for setting up a water ministry that would be tasked with devising a long-term strategy to the country's chronic water problems, but experts are warning not to expect a miracle cure.

"WFMC chairman Plodprasop Suraswadi is now selecting the most feasible one," Suphot Tovichakchaikul, acting secretary-general of the WFMC, said yesterday.

If the ministry can be set up this year as expected, all water- and flood-related agencies will be transferred to it, Suphot told a seminar titled "The Water Ministry and the Way to Resolve the Country's Flood Problem" held by the Thai Hydrologist Association last week.

The first option, drafted by the Water Resources Department, calls for the proposed water ministry and the country's 25 River Basin Committees to oversee water management across country. The Water Management and Development Department, which will be the operating unit, will work at the regional level to deal with water problems. At the provincial level, the provincial water-management office, river basin subcommittee and local administrative organisations will team up to manage resources in local areas.

The second alternative, prepared by Sanong Chandraninthorn, a former director-general of the Water Resources Department, suggests the proposed ministry comprise a minister's secretarial office, permanent secretary's office, the Planning and Policy Office, Groundwater Resources Department, Water Resources Department, Water Development and Management Department and Provincial Water Management office.

Sanong also proposed that a national water committee be set up to oversee water policy and regulation, along with a national water crisis warning centre, water and agricultural management office, river basin committee and a river basin and tributary committee, to oversee water utilisation and the implementation of the flood-prevention master plan in local areas.

Two more agencies were suggested - a groundwater resources office and a groundwater fund. The office would look after the blueprint for drought prevention and the water supply for industry.

According to this proposal, if the ministry cannot be set up, a water agency should be established instead with three departments - water resources, groundwater resources, and water development and management - to be the main bodies to manage water resources. This agency would come under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

The third option would see a water ministry comprising a minister's secretarial office; permanent secretary's office; the Water Command and Operation Centre to oversee flood, drought, wastewater and groundwater problems; Planning and Policy office; the Royal Irrigation Department; Groundwater Department; Clean and Quality Water Department; Water Fund and Law Office; Water International Cooperation Office; Information and Technology Office; Vehicle and Machine Office; and Finance and Accounting Division.

The fourth model, designed by the Irrigation Department, proposes a water development and management ministry. Under this ministry, the Water Command and Operations Centre, which would oversee flood, drought, wastewater and groundwater problems, would be established, as well as a surface water development and management department. The ministry would also comprise the Groundwater Development and Manage-ment Department, River Basin Develop-ment and Management Bureau, Water Resources Bureau, Water Pollution Control Bureau, Water Resources Standards Bureau, Surface Water Quality Promotion Bureau, Groundwater Quality Promotion Bureau and state enterprises including the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, Provincial Waterworks Authority and Wastewater Management Authority.

The last choice, initiated by members of the House of Representatives and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, proposes a ministry comprising the National Water Resources Committee, National Hydrological Disaster Committee, River Basin Committee, minister's office, permanent secretary's office, and state enterprises and public organisations including the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, Provincial Water-works Authority, Wastewater Management Authority, National Dam Organisation, Mekong River Commission of Thailand, Royal Irrigation Department, Water Development for Farming Department, Meteorological Department, River Basin Conservation and Management Depart-ment, Land Development and Water Main-tenance Department, Coastal Resources Department and Groundwater Department.

If a water ministry cannot be established within this government's term, all water agencies should work together to deal with the flood problem instead of working separately, Suphot added.

Pramote Maikrat, a former director-general of the Irrigation Department, said it is high time for the government to get serious about the formation of a water ministry, as this issue has been bandied about for more than 10 years, since government reform was instituted in 2002.

"We need a new unified agency that can work effectively," he said.

However, Suwattana Jitladakorn of the Engineering Institute of Thailand's committee on water sources sees no need for another ministry. "I'm not so sure that creating a new ministry will solve the problem. The flood crises we have faced were caused by government mismanagement," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-02-25

[Pib]

Govt can always be made bigger....just be sure to make the selected water management plan as bureaucratic as possible.

[OzMick]

"However, Suwattana Jitladakorn of the Engineering Institute of Thailand's committee on water sources sees no need for another ministry.
"I'm not so sure that creating a new ministry will solve the problem.The flood crises we have faced were caused by government mismanagement,"
he said."

Here's one bloke won't be getting a suck on the B350 billion sauce-stick.

[Thai at Heart]

Irrigation department, agriculture ministry and marine department, local tessabans, bangkok government and provincial governments all have some say in rivers and damns.

Which means that adding one more ministry is hardly going to confuse the issue any more than it already is.

[Bellweather]

Govt can always be made bigger....just be sure to make the selected water management plan as bureaucratic as possible.

One all embracing, comprehensive plan for consideration would be too much for them but 5 means the back burner until they figure out which is best for backhanders. Oh my brain hurts

[Locationthailand]

"However, Suwattana Jitladakorn of the Engineering Institute of Thailand's committee on water sources sees no need for another ministry.

"I'm not so sure that creating a new ministry will solve the problem.The flood crises we have faced were caused by government mismanagement,"

he said."

Here's one bloke won't be getting a suck on the B350 billion sauce-stick.

Or a posting.

[Ricardo]

Place your bids bets please, all suggestions to be accompanied by a brown-envelope, used-notes only.

And Give Early ... It's Chinese New Year !

[billd766]

Place your bids bets please, all suggestions to be accompanied by a brown-envelope, used-notes only.

And Give Early ... It's Chinese New Year !

They think it is Chinese New Year EVERY day.

[Suffinator]

Too many cooks spoil the broth. Or in this case way too many piggies trying to get at the trough. So basically the idea here then is to do away with a dysfunctional department and create an even bigger dysfunctional department made up of other family members who are just as inept as their relations.

Yes, sterling idea, seems like another well thought out plan... not

[khunken]

Another ministry headed by who? A corrupt politician.

What's needed is a semi-government body, staffed & headed by water management experts (they do exist in Thailand) without interference of pollies. Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are as remote as Chalerm talking sense.

[MaxLee]

More committees and ministries and thousands of water retention, water irrigation, water-bla-bla-bla-prevention agencies, underground and unofficial, corruption sponsored by the ruling Thai government officials are putting on a surface show wasting time, creating a public image AS IF THEY ARE MAKING MEETINGS AND PLANS AND FANTASTIC POWERPOINT SHOWS, as if they ever care to the public and International business communities....

And in the end, the strategy will always be the same:

1. Sh**^*^^tload on other provinces in order to protect Bangkok

2. Use those so called Megaprojects to justify political status, but in the end will NEVER get finished

3. Once the crisis happened and is over, "pay compensation", and face is saved