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PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Preparing for the rains
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation on Sunday


Sasin

Poramate Minsiri and Sasin Chalermlarp explain why they are concerned about the government's water management and flood protection plans

BANGKOK: -- Experts and activists have long held different views of why Thailand suffered such devastating flooding back in 2011, an event that claimed hundreds of lives, submerged seven industrial estates and displaced millions. But whether the cause was excess rainfall, poor management of dams, deforestation, unregulated development of the flood plains, or a combination of all four, they all agree that a water management programme is vital to preventing a repeat.

What they can't agree on is the feasibility or otherwise of the government's Bt350 billion water resources management and flood prevention projects.

Well-known activists, Poramate Minsiri and Sasin Chalermlarp, both of whom played pivotal roles back in 2011, are also concerned about these plans and are determined to ensure that the public is kept abreast of a policy that is likely to drag on for several years. Both have also said that they are ready to assist people too should the kingdom face another bout of severe flooding this year.

Poramate, manager of the Thai Flood information centre, points out that there will be problems in implementing the projects and that corruption is inevitable. He's more worried though about the lack of public participation, the fate of last golden teak forest in Uttaradit province, which is likely to be affected, and the potential for unnecessary relocation of possible unneeded relocation of villagers under the water management programme.

Over the past year, Poramate has been building up a network of local residents, experts, concerned citizens and activists both for face-to-face meetings and discussions on the social media.

"When residents organise their own forums, no representatives from the government show up," he says.

Crucial to the success of that networking are the invitations he receives to speak at large venues in the northern and northern part of central regions, such as at the recent meeting at a Nakhon Sawan sports facility, which was packed with concerned residents.

Public television station Thai PBS also invited Poramate to appear on a special programme.

But while Poramate was effective in the 2011 floods, working closely with Sombat Boonngamanong in mobilising volunteers to assist flood victims, he points out that he is not formally trained to deal with water issues and thus needs to ensure that experts are also involved in the fight.

One of those experts is Sasin, a geologist and the secretary general of Sueb Nakasatien Foundation. He's in constant touch with Poramate and is monitoring the government's every move.

Sasin questions the process the government has followed so far for which, he notes, there is apparently no clear explanation. He adds that he fears that water management plans will benefit real estate developers the most. "Better and more education about the environment and natural calamity is needed for all Thais", he says. "The mass media, particularly television, should pay more attention and allot more airtime to the issue," he continues, adding that this is required now and not just during major floods such as in 2011, when he was inundated with requests for television interviews and appearances.

He is happy to leave the networking side to Poramate, who he believes is doing a good job in getting concerned people together and involved.

Poramate has over 45,000 Twitter followers on his personal account @iwhale and is very active. The official flood-monitoring account set up by Poramate and his team, @thaiflood, has more than 109,600 followers and features some comments made by Sasin and others on the topic through other media such as Youtube.

Poramate has also set up the website ThaiFlood.com and says allies like Sombat, the Red Sunday group leader, is ready to spring into action as required.

"Sombat is always prepared to act," he says.

According to Poramate, the government has invested more than Bt240 billion in water management and flood prevention since 2011. The funds, he says, have gone into ensuring that industrial areas and important places will not flood should an inundation hit Thailand in 2013. Ordinary folk may not be spared, though, as the government's water management plan will only become effective in three to five years. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed," says the Chulalongkorn University graduate.

But if disaster does head Thailand's way, he's confident that red shirts, yellow shirts and multi-colour shirts put aside their differences and come together to face the common threat.

"They've done it before and there's no reason why they wouldn't do it if we are faced with another mega flood this year," he says.


-- The Nation 2013-05-26

[NeverSure]

I see they have it all worked out.

[billd766]

I see they have it all worked out.

Yeah, right.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

But if disaster does head Thailand's way, he's confident that red shirts, yellow shirts and multi-colour shirts put aside their differences and come together to face the common threat.

"They've done it before and there's no reason why they wouldn't do it if we are faced with another mega flood this year," he says.

The only thing I remember hearing and seeing from the last go-round was the red folks taking, stockpiling and/or wasting everything that wasn't nailed down in the way of flood relief supplies. And a lot of Thais getting very angry about that.

[Nisa]

Experts and activists have long held different views of why Thailand suffered such devastating flooding back in 2011, an event that claimed hundreds of lives, submerged seven industrial estates and displaced millions. But whether the cause was excess rainfall, poor management of dams, deforestation, unregulated development of the flood plains, or a combination of all four, they all agree that a water management programme is vital to preventing a repeat.

I guess the worst monsoon season in over 5-decades which followed a severe drought played no part. 80% of the problem is resolved by simply having this wake-up call. At least until the lessons are forgot, they are not going to go into a rainy season with damns full again because they are only focused on drought.

[Joe Mamma]

The dams proposed will bring their own problems and Bangkok will still sink lower every year.