Thai Cabinet set to approve Bt350-bn water projects

[webfact]

Final nod for loans next week
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation

Cabinet set to approve Bt350-bn water projects

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet is expected this coming Tuesday to approve all mega-projects under the Bt350-billion plan to improve the country's water management and flood prevention, as well as a massive loan to finance their implementation.

The National Water and Flood Management Policy Commission already plans to launch a series of forums to raise public understanding of the projects next week.

Yet, the Central Administrative Court may have the final say on the issue. In response to a petition filed by the Stop Global Warming Association and a large number of people, the court will decide on June 27 as to whether the mega-projects can go ahead. "We will respect the court's ruling," PM's Office Minister Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal said yesterday.

If the court gave the green light, the planned implementation of the projects would go ahead, he said. However, if it ruled otherwise, the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC) would need to consult legal experts on what to do next.

Nivatthamrong was speaking in his capacity as WFMC deputy chairman , which yesterday approved the list of bidders chosen by its selection panel.

Although he disclosed that the companies had agreed to lower their bids during the negotiation rounds, he refused to elaborate further.

"The figures can be released to the public only after the Cabinet gives the green light to the choices of bidders," he insisted.

An informed source, however, revealed that the overall budget for project implementation could drop by more than Bt6 billion after the bidders had agreed to lower their prices.

Four companies had entered the technical round, with all of them making the list of successful contenders approved by the WFMC yesterday.

Nivatthamrong said the commission would stick to a figure of Bt304 billion when requesting budgetary funding from the Cabinet, although the successful bidders had offered discounts.

"The difference will be used to finance other projects to make the country's water management and flood prevention more complete," he said, "New projects won't be redundant".

In the wake of 2011 flood crisis, the government approved Bt350 billion for the improvement of the country's water-management and flood-prevention systems. Of the amount, more than Bt30 billion has already been spent.

According to the minister, about Bt291billion will directly go to the nine water-management and flood-prevention modules, while Bt8.73 will be for the hiring of consulting firms.

"The remaining budget will finance projects for water management; for example, the rehabilitation of huge water sources such as Kwan Phayao [Phayao Lake]," he said.

In his capacity as WFMC chairman, Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said some Bt1 billion would be earmarked for research into water-management technologies.

Nivatthamrong said that now that the Cabinet had approved the choice of bidders and the project financing, the Budget Bureau would forward the matter to the Public Debt Management Office for further action.

He expects the signing of loan contracts with financial institutions to be undertaken before the end of the month. "They have offered a low interest rate," he added.

Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand chairman Pramon Sutivong said his group was worried about the lack of public participation in the mega-projects.

"We hope to see the projects implemented fully and successfully for the public benefit," he said.

Nivatthamrong yesterday met with Pramon and assured him that forums would soon be held for the exchange of opinion between the government and various stakeholders.

Supoj Towichukchaikul, acting secretary-general of the National Water and Flood Management Policy Commission, said the authorities would meet with bodies such as anti-corruption groups and civic organisations to exchange ideas and create understanding in the mega-projects.

"The first forum will take place next week," he said.

Asked whether Plodprasop would be present, he said: "No. We will send persons who know how to compromise to the forum."


-- The Nation 2013-06-15

[iancnx]

I asked on the other thread, has anyone got any idea of the locations of the proposed 18 dams? A link would be appreciated from someone living in a river basin! The above report now suggest 9 mega projects..... So is that only 9 dams?

Edited June 14, 2013 by iancnx

[Thai at Heart]

They get 350bn even though the approved bids are 304 bn????

To make the things "more complete?"

[garyk]

One Baht for you one for me. One baht for you two for me. I hope this doesn't happen!

[GentlemanJim]

Phew! That should take care of the hole in the rice pledging fund, now if we can just get that 2 trillion we can use that to cover the flood management plan!

[GentlemanJim]

Double post.

Edited June 15, 2013 by GentlemanJim

[Bagwan]

Anybody else think that this may well end in disaster? BTW how is the massive sewage treatment plant affair in Samut Prakan going?

[Halion]

To be expected. The current government is in the home straight for it's current term so ensure you can get your greedy little hands on as much as possiblebjust in case you get kicked out which means that a new government would have the responsibility of completion so you can make them the scapegoat . Why do yo think that there are so many high end projects floating around.

[rubl]

Projects possibly approved next week and already the National Water and Flood Management Policy Commission plans to launch a series of forums to raise public understanding of the projects next week.

At the forum: Q: what? A: a dam. Q: why? A: project approved. Q: what about Environmental Impact Studies? A: projects approved. Q: What about public having a say in this? A: projects approved by your benevolent government chaired by the lovely smiling PM Yingluck. What more can you ask for?

[MaxLee]

Projects possibly approved next week and already the National Water and Flood Management Policy Commission plans to launch a series of forums to raise public understanding of the projects next week.

At the forum: Q: what? A: a dam. Q: why? A: project approved. Q: what about Environmental Impact Studies? A: projects approved. Q: What about public having a say in this? A: projects approved by your benevolent government chaired by the lovely smiling PM Yingluck. What more can you ask for?

Same plan, but different cover up conspiracy story disguised as:

"Protect Bangkok ONLY BANGKOK, and sh******tload dump and crap on the rest of Thailand."

"Protect Bangkok ONLY BANGKOK at the cost of the rest of the other provinces of Thailand"

[HAL9000]

I hope the people who are litigating are ready to pay the damages for the people who get flooded again.