Thai Govt's Water Budget Inflated: Senators

[webfact]

Water budget inflated: senators
KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Senators yesterday demanded that the government explain its massive Bt350-billion budget for flood management and prevention when Japanese advisers said only Bt100 billion was needed.

Senator Somchai Swangkarn told the House meeting that he wondered what the government planned to do with the extra Bt250 billion. Committees should track how the government uses the Bt350 billion, as there was criticism over graft, he said.

Senator Prasarn Marukpitak said the Japan International Cooperation Agency, in its flood management study of the Chao Phraya River basin presented to the Water and Flood Management Commission last Friday, said it was unnecessary to proceed with all 10 construction projects. Other projects were recommended, such as supporting residents of the basin to make adjustments to be able to live with flooding, controlling water flow of the two dams, managing water effectively, dredging the river, constructing more floodways in Ayutthaya and expanding dykes.

A South Korean enterprise to be hired by the government to design part of the scheme might cause a problem as it did not have experts and a network of firms, he said.

The government could face time constraints as it would have to secure the Bt350-billion by June 30, while it has not yet sought public opinion or conducted an environmental impact assessment, he added.


-- The Nation 2013-02-27

[Ricardo]

Isn't 250 Billion even more than 30% of 350 Billion Baht ?

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you ! PTP, taking the country to new heights !

[keith101]

bt100 millin for projects

bt250 million for pockets

TIT

[ChrisY1]

I doubt there would be anyone in the Govt....either house, that would have any idea of the projects value....with the exception of course of the main players....they would have their %s worked out!

[Locationthailand]

Now that has let the cat out of the bag hasn't it? And what will transpire? Zero - just wait and see. Can ANY Thai voter see what PTP is all about?

[Buchholz]

Isn't 250 Billion even more than 30% of 350 Billion Baht ?

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you ! PTP, taking the country to new heights !

.

It's not easy to out-unprecedent the previous unprecedented, but they sure are trying.

.

What the real PM Yingluck just said about solving the possible lack of electricity in April also applies here of course :-) "Please have confidence in the government"

.

We have confidence that the previous unprecedented level will be be exceeded.

.

Thailand's Auditor-General Khunying Jaruwan stated that corruption of every sort exists at unprecedented levels under the present administration.

- The Nation / Nov. 14, 2004

Edited February 27, 2013 by Buchholz

[AleG]

I doubt there would be anyone in the Govt....either house, that would have any idea of the projects value....with the exception of course of the main players....they would have their %s worked out!

Of course they have no idea, they railroaded this without parliamentary debate. The argument, a year and a half ago, was that the money was needed immediately, right this very instant, to prevent future flooding and look at those nasty Democrats trying to delay things by asking silly questions like what PTP was planning to do with it.

Basically PTP seized the opportunity from the disastrous floods to set up a humongous through, I very much doubt anyone gave any detailed look into what the money would be used for, that is, used for water management. Their eyes probably went $_$ after the budget was passed by decree.

[Robby nz]

Whats this learn to live with it bit?:

Other projects were recommended, such as supporting residents of the basin to make adjustments to be able to live with flooding

That's hardly a method of preventing flooding.

[Pimay1]

Whats this learn to live with it bit?:

Other projects were recommended, such as supporting residents of the basin to make adjustments to be able to live with flooding

That's hardly a method of preventing flooding.

Agree. What an off the wall statement. After all our real PM and Plod have said floods are a thing of the past in Thailand. There is absolutely nothing to worry about. Except of course running out of electricity.

[Gary A]

I think they are just being realistic by adding the graft and corruption costs to the total. The actual cost of 100 billion plus an extra 250 billion for filling the pig's feed trough sounds about right.

[bigbamboo]

Is that the sound of a Dawei M.O.U I can hear being torn up in Tokyo?

[zakk9]

Whats this learn to live with it bit?:

Other projects were recommended, such as supporting residents of the basin to make adjustments to be able to live with flooding

That's hardly a method of preventing flooding.

Since all flooding cannot be prevented, learning to live with it is probably not such a bad idea. They knew how to do it a hundred years ago, so it shouldn't be impossible.

[A Member]

bt100 millin for projects

bt250 million for pockets

TIT

Senators spitting the dummy because they will not be in on it ?

[Buchholz]

BANGKOK: -- Senators yesterday demanded that the government explain its massive Bt350-billion budget for flood management and prevention when Japanese advisers said only Bt100 billion was needed.

Senator Somchai Swangkarn told the House meeting that he wondered what the government planned to do with the extra Bt250 billion. Committees should track how the government uses the Bt350 billion, as there was criticism over graft, he said.

.

As if the 350,000,000,000.00 Baht in the flood management scheme that was rushed through Yingluck's Cabinet wasn't enough, hopefully some similar oversight and questioning is similarly applied to the even far greater 2,000,000,000,000.00 Baht in the infrastructure scheme. that was approved this afternoon by Yingluck's Cabinet.

.

The Cabinet today approved the long-awaited infrastructure investment plan, which will entail total investment of Bt2 trillion

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Cabinet-approves-infrastructure-investment-plan-30200866.html

Edited February 27, 2013 by Buchholz

[slipperx]

Another day, another few billion baht stolen from the less criminal. Thai culture - don't fret.

[Buchholz]

BANGKOK: -- Senators yesterday demanded that the government explain its massive Bt350-billion budget for flood management and prevention when Japanese advisers said only Bt100 billion was needed.

Senator Somchai Swangkarn told the House meeting that he wondered what the government planned to do with the extra Bt250 billion. Committees should track how the government uses the Bt350 billion, as there was criticism over graft, he said.

.

As if the 350,000,000,000.00 Baht in the flood management scheme that was rushed through Yingluck's Cabinet wasn't enough, hopefully some similar oversight and questioning is similarly applied to the even far greater 2,000,000,000,000.00 Baht in the infrastructure scheme. that was approved this afternoon by Yingluck's Cabinet.

.

The Cabinet today approved the long-awaited infrastructure investment plan, which will entail total investment of Bt2 trillion

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Cabinet-approves-infrastructure-investment-plan-30200866.html

.

The 2,000,000,000,000.00 Baht infrastructure budget has been doubled to 4,000,000,000,000.00 Baht as announced yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Finance Kittiratt Na-Ranong.

.

[OzMick]

Whats this learn to live with it bit?:

Other projects were recommended, such as supporting residents of the basin to make adjustments to be able to live with flooding

That's hardly a method of preventing flooding.

Since all flooding cannot be prevented, learning to live with it is probably not such a bad idea. They knew how to do it a hundred years ago, so it shouldn't be impossible.

Not impossible. All they have to do is isolate the gene for webbed feet.