Thai govt's Bt350-billion water-management scheme hinges on court decision

[webfact]

Water project hinges on court decision
Kesinee Taengkhiao,
Jutatip Tipnumpa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A big hurdle awaits the government's Bt350-billion water-management scheme, as the Central Administrative Court will decide on June 27 as to whether it can go ahead with the flood-prevention modules.

The ruling will be made in response to a petition filed by Stop Global Warming Association's chairman Srisuwan Janya and 44 other people.

On Monday, the government announced bidders with top technical scores for each module. The price negotiation is underway, with results to be announced this week. Contract signing will take place at later date.

The petition accuses Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the Strategic Committee for Water-Resources Management, the National Water-Management |and Flood-Prevention Policy Commission and the Water- and Flood-Management Commission (WFMC) of abusing their authority when preparing the projects related to the flood-prevention/water-management systems.

PROJECTS 'RUSHED'

The petition points out that the accused parties suspiciously rushed to introduce the mega projects and the Cabinet issued a loan decree to finance the projects on January 26, 2012 -just five days after the master plan on water management was unveiled.

The court will hear testimony from both sides on June 25.

Early last month, the court decided not to issue an injunction to block the bidding process for the mega projects, saying that no legally binding effects would arise from the WFMC decision to receive the bids.

After the court's announcement yesterday, WFMC chairman Plodprasop Suraswadi, who is also a deputy prime minister, said any module that did not get an approval for its environmental impact assessment (EIA) would be scrapped.

Monton Panupokin, managing director of Korea Water Resources Corp (K-Water) which is tipped to win the biggest pie in the scheme, said if the price was approved, the Bt130-billion monkey-cheek or water-retention-area project could proceed immediately.

"Other than for the water-diversion channel project, we |will conduct an EIA on other modules first," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-06-13

[Tatsujin]

They should talk to the Korean's, they've done a wonderful job with their water management recently.

[tomross46]

After the court's announcement yesterday, WFMC chairman Plodprasop Suraswadi, who is also a deputy prime minister, said any module that did not get an approval for its environmental impact assessment (EIA) would be scrapped

Has the proposed monkey cheek areas been presented to the people that will be flooded. That might hot be needed, because we have chairman Plodprasop in charge, we all know he on cares about the citizens.

[Joe Mamma]

I am worried about those dams and the damage caused that will never be reversed. Many Thai's need fish as their primary protein source, and most need land to live on too!

[Thai at Heart]

Scrapped without an eia? Seems a lot won't get built then.

[Bagwan]

Is there anything that happens or is planned to happen in this country that doesn't end up in court? Why not cut out the middle men and let judges decide everything? It seems to me that Thais cannot agree on anything.

[drdoom6996]

"The petition points out that the accused parties suspiciously rushed to introduce the mega projects and the Cabinet issued a loan decree to finance the projects on January 26, 2012 -just five days after the master plan on water management was unveiled".

And they have not done anything for a year and a half except get the money and steal it. What water projects??????????????

[waza]

18 months after the emergency decree and now they want to rush the project through without any due diligence, that's arrogance for you.

[khunken]

18 months after the emergency decree and now they want to rush the project through without any due diligence, that's arrogance for you.

That's Plodprasop for you - the epitome of arrogance.

Yep, we'll use an emergency decree to obtain the money, a year later approve the projects without any consultation with affected local people, ask companies to bid & leave it to the winners to carry out EIAs.

I suspect there will be some substantial come-back from the 'garbage' who were left out.

[rubl]

One or two days ago someone of the government or whatever suggested that projects would be charged against the regular national budget if the contractual business went passed the 30th of June and the special decree for THB 350 billion urgently needed in January 2012 was no longer in place. I guess that's still the case? Anyway a delay in the setup of water management and flooding will obviously not be the fault of this government but the population complaining and of course the Democrat party with k. Abhisit.

[seppuku]

I've been reading the forum for a couple of days now and it's depressing. It's not the topic subjects (which are obviously chosen to spark debate) themselves, it's just the relentness whine of bitter people posting. It's a lovely country with mostly lovely people in it, can't you just enjoy that?

[waza]

I've been reading the forum for a couple of days now and it's depressing. It's not the topic subjects (which are obviously chosen to spark debate) themselves, it's just the relentness whine of bitter people posting. It's a lovely country with mostly lovely people in it, can't you just enjoy that?

I agree its just disheartening to see how a few greedy people are ruining this lovely country and eroding the quality of life of the mostly lovely people in it. If whining about it on a social forum and others like this makes any difference at all then I will whine till the kwai come home.

Edited June 13, 2013 by waza

[OzMick]

I've been reading the forum for a couple of days now and it's depressing. It's not the topic subjects (which are obviously chosen to spark debate) themselves, it's just the relentness whine of bitter people posting. It's a lovely country with mostly lovely people in it, can't you just enjoy that?

Your posting name is seppuku, and you complain about being depressed? And it's our fault?

[Thaddeus]

I've been reading the forum for a couple of days now and it's depressing. It's not the topic subjects (which are obviously chosen to spark debate) themselves, it's just the relentness whine of bitter people posting. It's a lovely country with mostly lovely people in it, can't you just enjoy that?

Your posting name is seppuku, and you complain about being depressed? And it's our fault?

Not one hundred percent sure if that should be classed as irony, but if not, it's pretty close.

[indyuk]

18 months after the emergency decree and now they want to rush the project through without any due diligence, that's arrogance for you.

The contract awards are being accelerated because the Dems in Oposition want the projects canceclled on the basis that they cannot be completed by the appove nd contractual end dates.

[indyuk]

I don't see any need to wory aboout these projects that are vital to the future of the Thai economy.

The Thai government have proceded with the introductionn of these projects as we always have done in Canada.

They identified a need, specified the ojectives, submitted a credible budget, prequalified the bidders, carried ot technical evaluation of all of the bids received, selected the most technically competant bids, all this prior the opening the comercial proposal of each bidder, now they have opened the bid price envelopes and are negotiating with the bidders to normalize each of the bid sums to ensure that each bidder is offering the same completeness of service for his bid price as the other bidders have.

This is one hundred percent normal practice throughout the western world.

I commend the Thai goverment for the viability of there bididing procedure and the integrety of their analysis.

What ever happens at the court hearing I cannot imagine any judge finding fault with the Governments prodedures and strategy.

[billd766]

"After the court's announcement yesterday, WFMC chairman Plodprasop Suraswadi, who is also a deputy prime minister, said any module that did not get an approval for its environmental impact assessment (EIA) would be scrapped."

So if any project fails the EIA which HAS to be done by the winning contractor the contact is lost and naturally the monies allocated for that project WILL be returned to the government without of course the "corruption tax" being deducted.

Who wants to bet that NO EIA will fail?

[iancnx]

Can anyone point me to a link that summarises the significant projects and locations..... Such as damming a river? Thanks

[iancnx]

Found this.... But nothing location specific, just a mention of 18 Dams !

MCOT

BANGKOK, May 2 – Two Thai civic groups filed separate petitions against the government on charges of mismanagement and corruption in the country’s massive anti-flood projects involving Bt350 billion loans.

The Thaiflood.com group, led by Parames Minsiri, submitted a letter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) calling for legal action against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the cabinet for violating the laws in their water management under the Bt350 billion borrowing.

He said the government went ahead with its projects and spending without any public hearing or environmental impact assessment. The government was also charged of favouritism for some private companies.

“The government could have spent only Bt190 billion, instead of Bt350 billion, if it allowed the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to assist in the water management projects,” he said.

“The government chose the Chinese and South Korean private sectors to do the job without giving any details or assessment on environmental impact.”

Meanwhile, the Anti-Global Warming Association, led by Srisuwan Chanya and a group of lawyers, asked the Administrative Court to revoke the government’s Bt350 billion water management schemes and the 9-Module water management project.

They also asked the court to issue an order to stop the government’s announcement of bidding on water management, scheduled for tomorrow.

They said the government’s plan to build 18 dams, floodways and reservoirs nationwide will affect the people’s way of life and agricultural areas while a lot of land will have to be expropriated. (MCOT online news)

อัพเดตเมื่อ 2 พ.ค. 2556

[smutcakes]

Can anyone point me to a link that summarises the significant projects and locations..... Such as damming a river? Thanks

Stop asking ridiculous questions- this is a place for wild speculation and FACTS (opinion). Rational thought is not welcome on TVF.

[rubl]

Can anyone point me to a link that summarises the significant projects and locations..... Such as damming a river? Thanks

Stop asking ridiculous questions- this is a place for wild speculation and FACTS (opinion). Rational thought is not welcome on TVF.

Welcome to TVF where a good question will not always give the expected result. Mind you, in this case I'm not sure I ever saw much in details, in the English language that is. Will have a look, may have missed some.

Edited June 14, 2013 by rubl