BURNING ISSUE
Public still in dark on water project
Samatcha Hunsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Today sees the bidding on the flood-prevention projects worth more than Bt300 billion, to be financed with loans.

Under the country's water-resource master plan, foreign contractors will be hired to design and build all nine modules of the project.

This mega-project was conceived by the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee (NWFPC) in the wake of the disastrous floods of 2011, which did Bt1.4 trillion in damage and led to harsh allegations of mismanagement against the government from a discontented public.

However, the government has failed to give the people any details on how it would complete the entire flood-prevention system within five years, and what it would look like then.

The state agencies involved, particularly the NWFPC, have only told the public about the tender for the nine modules. But they have never discussed the project in detail, particularly regarding information that may enlighten the public.

For example, society and even the residents in the project areas have never been asked what kinds of projects they want to deal with the flood and drought problems.

It is understandable that certain facts about such projects should be kept confidential ahead of the bidding. But at least the public should be given the basic information that they deserve to know.

Due to this secrecy, groups are campaigning against the project and some of them have even gone to court in a bid to dam up the mega-project.

Prominent members of the government-appointed Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM), which was set up after the flood crisis to work with the NWFPC, have resigned. They are Sumet Tantivechakul, Kitja Pholpasi, Pramote Maiklad, Royol Jittadon, Seri Suparathit and Samith Thammasaroj.

An expert who had worked with the government on water-management projects, Uthen Chartpinyo, filed a complaint involving the mega-project with the Administrative Court against the NWFPC and the Prime Minister's Office. Uthen had served as an adviser to the prime minister on water releases during the flood crisis.

A network of NGOs - including the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, Foundation for Integrated Water Resources Management in Thailand, Thaiflood.com, and Network of Business, Society and Environment - submitted a written request to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Administrative Court that the mega-project to be cancelled.

Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, who is in charge of the NWFPC, has become the main target of attacks from the project opponents. Plodprasop, known for his outspokenness and belligerence, also has vehemently countered the critics and cranked up the tension between both sides.

The conflict and legal battle have raised a big question mark about the future of the water-management project.

A source close to the prime minister said that despite all the opposition and legal manoeuvring, the government will have to plough ahead with the project, as it is a stated government policy and the funds for the project have already been borrowed. It is unlikely that the government will abandon the project, the source said.

"Plodprasop is responsible for the project. The prime minister has often asked him about its progress," the source said.

It appears the prime minister is fully behind this mega-project. But she will also have to brace for the consequences of the conflict resulting from the government's failure to explain it satisfactorily to the public and to Plodprasop's stubbornness.


-- The Nation 2013-05-03

Bidding for water mega project to proceed as planned

BANGKOK, 3 May 2013 (NNT) – The Administrative Court has accepted to review a petition asking it to issue an injunction against the government's THB350-billion water management plan.

The petition was previously filed by president of the Stop Global Warming Thailand Association Srisuwan Janya on May 1.

He and his legal team also requested the court to issue an emergency injunction to suspend the planned bidding on the project which is scheduled for May 3; however, the court has turned down this request.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Suphot Tovichakchaikul made public that the bidding would consequently take place on Friday as planned.

Five bidders will be allowed to submit the bids containing both the price proposal and the technical proposal during 8.30-14.00 hr. The Water and Flood Management Committee will later meet for the bid evaluation and conclusion before holding a press conference.


-- NNT 2013-05-03

What do you mean you want to know how the money will be spent!

If the companies have to deal with land expropriation themselves, as I read, this has no chance of being completed in 5 years.

RED LIGHT ONE "... the government has failed to give the people any details on how it would complete the entire flood-prevention system within five years, "

RED LIGHT TWO - An expert who was part of the floods management has already filed a complaint against the PM's office but as yet no response.

RED LIGHT THREE - NGO's, networks et al have submitted to the PM, NACC and the Administrative courts, the project needs to be cancelled.

... and finally the guaranteed success of the project...

"Plodprasop is responsible for the project. The prime minister has often asked him about its progress,"

A small scale China....tell the people nothing...amass massive wealth for the chosen few....squash those that protest ....finally, silence the media!

RED LIGHT ONE "... the government has failed to give the people any details on how it would complete the entire flood-prevention system within five years, "

RED LIGHT TWO - An expert who was part of the floods management has already filed a complaint against the PM's office but as yet no response.

RED LIGHT THREE - NGO's, networks et al have submitted to the PM, NACC and the Administrative courts, the project needs to be cancelled.

... and finally the guaranteed success of the project...

"Plodprasop is responsible for the project. The prime minister has often asked him about its progress,"

I just had a flashback to an old TV show called "The Inventors". Plod reports on the project and Yingluck asks "What colours does it come in?"

They will understand fully when/if we get rains like 2 years ago. Bring your swim fins!

red light number 4.. the Japanese consortium has pulled out of the bidding saying the median prices are far to low to do a quality job.

the government will have to plough ahead with the project, as it is a stated government policy and the funds for the project have already been borrowed.

There we have the real reason the funds have already been borrowed and we now must spend them in order to get our rightful share.

I would imagine the bidders would be pretty cagy given that they are likely to face opposition from local people as well as all the aforementioned orginisations.

Probably their bids will reflect the problems they expect to encounter.

They will understand fully when/if we get rains like 2 years ago. Bring your swim fins!

The problem is, that is might not rain that much this year, or next year.....or the year after that.

I once worked for a company that was bought by another company and as a result all equipment had to be painted in the new company color. A maintenance bulleting was sent around, stating that all equipment had to be repainted within 5 years. Great we said, let’s get back to our normal work and start painting in 4 1/2 years!

the government will have to plough ahead with the project, as it is a stated government policy and the funds for the project have already been borrowed.

There we have the real reason the funds have already been borrowed and we now must spend them in order to get our rightful share.

I would imagine the bidders would be pretty cagy given that they are likely to face opposition from local people as well as all the aforementioned orginisations.

Probably their bids will reflect the problems they expect to encounter.

If I understand this government´s policies correct, the money has long been borrowed AND SPENT FOR OTHER THINGS. Therefore they are urged to go ahead with the water project as soon as possible and make loans for future projects like infrastructure, before the water project can actually start.

"Plodprasop, known for his outspokenness and belligerence..." actually I think he's mostly known for his blinding stupidity.

Will the projects involve a lot of propellers?

red light number 4.. the Japanese consortium has pulled out of the bidding saying the median prices are far to low to do a quality job.

And if that is true then why hasn't the Nation and the Thai News Bureau made this their headline instead of all the other meaningless crap? This sort of supersedes all else and makes it useless, yeah?

red light number 4.. the Japanese consortium has pulled out of the bidding saying the median prices are far to low to do a quality job.

And if that is true then why hasn't the Nation and the Thai News Bureau made this their headline instead of all the other meaningless crap? This sort of supersedes all else and makes it useless, yeah?

It was in the news last week. But I don't think the reporters understood what was going on.

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

'public in the dark'? I guess theNation staff involved couldn't find a relevant saying for starting to get wet feet.

Like most Thai government projects the poor masses are usually kept in the dark nothing new here. There will of course be plenty of finger pointing when the floods come and more damage is reported.

Hilarious to see the blame game starting to unfold so early in the life of a project.

Hilarious name - Plod-Prat-Sop. You couldnt make it up.