Thai Court halts govt's Bt350 billion water management project

[MaxLee]

The court said four high-level state officials including Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra breached the law in approving the water management master plan without going through environmental assessments and public hearings.

Great, we can expect to see the pretty young (ish) thing and her cronies in the Dock alongside Abhisit soon then

Yep - bet good old Tarit is investigating already. He'll be charging them anytime

You mean Tarit is D**CK riding with his Pheu Thai companions....

[Robby nz]

Several options:

They could just ignore the court., like they have done with the 'please explain' about Thaksins passport, and go ahead and do it anyway.

They could get the reds to picket the court and threaten the judges.

Introduce legislation under urgency to disband the court retrospective to last year.

Or even try something new and accept the court rulling.

[robertson468]

"We will accept the Courts ruling...........". "We will see if we can appeal the decision". ?????????????

[Bagwan]

WATER MANAGEMENT

Court orders studies on water plan

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK,

NAKARIN SRILERT

THE NATION

Yeeeaaaaaah Give me money,.... taxpayers' money.... here we go!!!!

Who are these people and what are they celebrating? Captions please!

[witsawakorn]

I see this as a good thing. Thailand has a good EIA system which was strengthened after the 2010 protests about Maptaphut. It is good to see the law being enforced

Anybody who has ever complained about corruption in Thailand should be applauding the fact that somebody is taking the case to the NACC

[indyuk]

Tongthong Chandrangsu, permanent secretary for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the government accepted the court’s decision and will call a meeting of the National Water and Flood Management Policy tomorrow to discuss details of the court’s ruling and determine if it could be appealed.

He admitted that the court’s verdict could delay the water resources management project while the Finance Ministry would be asked if the Bt350 billion budget for the project will be in jeopardy.

He gave assurances that the government would communicate with the public about the project and that it would inform the four bid winners. (MCOT online news)

Talk to the public,... Alright then,... Redshirt-Snipers get ready to shoot some pesky Anti government people

"Alright then,... Redshirt-Snipers get ready to shoot some pesky Anti government people" I think that might be a pretty good idea. "have breached the Law" <deleted> does that mean. That our oposition, incapable of doing a day's legimate service to the Nation and are busy assembling spoilers in the dozens in order to slow down the Gonernment's progress with it's manadate. Abhisit should be hung for his party's malfeasance and interferance with the administration.

[iancnx]

.???

[MaxLee]

WATER MANAGEMENT

Court orders studies on water plan

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK,

NAKARIN SRILERT

THE NATION

Yeeeaaaaaah Give me money,.... taxpayers' money.... here we go!!!!

Who are these people and what are they celebrating? Captions please!

The dirty business men of Pheu Thai Mafia agencies

[Tatsujin]

Tongthong Chandrangsu, permanent secretary for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the government accepted the court’s decision and will call a meeting of the National Water and Flood Management Policy tomorrow to discuss details of the court’s ruling and determine if it could be appealed.

He admitted that the court’s verdict could delay the water resources management project while the Finance Ministry would be asked if the Bt350 billion budget for the project will be in jeopardy.

He gave assurances that the government would communicate with the public about the project and that it would inform the four bid winners. (MCOT online news)

Talk to the public,... Alright then,... Redshirt-Snipers get ready to shoot some pesky Anti government people

"Alright then,... Redshirt-Snipers get ready to shoot some pesky Anti government people" I think that might be a pretty good idea. "have breached the Law" <deleted> does that mean. That our oposition, incapable of doing a day's legimate service to the Nation and are busy assembling spoilers in the dozens in order to slow down the Gonernment's progress with it's manadate. Abhisit should be hung for his party's malfeasance and interferance with the administration.

The purpose of the Opposition Party is to "oppose" . . . why do you think Abhisit should be hung for trying to restrict the excesses of the current Govt?

[Robby nz]

"Alright then,... Redshirt-Snipers get ready to shoot some pesky Anti government people" I think that might be a pretty good idea. "have breached the Law" <deleted> does that mean. That our oposition, incapable of doing a day's legimate service to the Nation and are busy assembling spoilers in the dozens in order to slow down the Gonernment's progress with it's manadate. Abhisit should be hung for his party's malfeasance and interferance with the administration.

You should be posting in the jokes section, that's really funny.

Who are these people and what are they celebrating?

I would imagine the ones celebrating are the ones who brought the action to the court.

That is the group who have enough respect and concern for the environment and the people that will be affected to bring such action.

[indyuk]

WATER MANAGEMENT

Court orders studies on water plan

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK,

NAKARIN SRILERT

THE NATION

They are enemies of the Thai People.

Yeeeaaaaaah Give me money,.... taxpayers' money.... here we go!!!!

Who are these people and what are they celebrating? Captions please!

[witsawakorn]

Bloody EIAs.

How dare the people to be involved.

Absolutely - anybody would think its their money

This is a democratically elected peoples' government - they can do what they want. They have the peoples' mandate. All these pesky NGO's and agitators - how dare they interfere with important government scams schemes that have been carefully thought through to benefit the Shin gang people.

Some will be challenging the hugely beneficial long term rice pledging scam scheme next.

Yes they may have got the Idea from the US where George Bush lifted the ban on offshore oil drilling in Alaska in 2005 without even studying the environmental impact. A shocking decision that wasn't blocked until Obama got in.

Unfortunately in this case the project in question is clearly intended to benefit ordinary people and companies who live/operate in flood risk areas rather than lining corporate coffers and the downside is that completing the EIA might take a year or more which increases the risk of further flooding. The best solution might be to place a contract for the design and EIA studies since you don't actually need to have an approved EIA until construction starts according to my understanding of Thai regulations

[khunken]

This is pretty serious stuff. The Admin Court's decisions are just as enforceable as a Criminal Court. Ignoring the decision is not an option unless PTP want to open the door to anarchy (or a coup).

They'll be virtually forced to appeal this as it almost kills the projects stone dead and has the addition of government malfeasance.

The whole management of the projects is a disgrace. Leaving the project winners to carry out public consultations, EIAs & HIAs is mind-boggling. It's all Plodprasop's 'work'. Leaving it to such an incompetent buffoon, it only turned out as expected.

One can only ask what sort of a mess they will make of the B2.2tn budget if it is approved.

[pb1936]

What an utter fiasco.......... incompetence on an astronomical scale.

[rubl]

"Tongthong Chandrangsu, permanent secretary for the Prime Ministers Office, admitted that the courts verdict could delay the water resources management project while the Finance Ministry would be asked if the Bt350 billion budget for the project will be in jeopardy."

I thought the deadline for committing the really urgently needed 350 billion from the equally urgently pushed through decree of January 2012, would be end of this month. As bids cannot be legally granted the budgets cannot legally be allocated and we either move things into the normal national budget (causing further deficits) or push through another emergency decree (which of course wouldn't cause a deficit, somehow according to Thai economics 101 and a half).

[ratcatcher]

Tongthong Chandrangsu, permanent secretary for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the government accepted the court’s decision and will call a meeting of the National Water and Flood Management Policy tomorrow to discuss details of the court’s ruling and determine if it could be appealed.

He admitted that the court’s verdict could delay the water resources management project while the Finance Ministry would be asked if the Bt350 billion budget for the project will be in jeopardy.

He gave assurances that the government would communicate with the public about the project and that it would inform the four bid winners. (MCOT online news)

Talk to the public,... Alright then,... Redshirt-Snipers get ready to shoot some pesky Anti government people

"Alright then,... Redshirt-Snipers get ready to shoot some pesky Anti government people" I think that might be a pretty good idea. "have breached the Law" <deleted> does that mean. That our oposition, incapable of doing a day's legimate service to the Nation and are busy assembling spoilers in the dozens in order to slow down the Gonernment's progress with it's manadate. Abhisit should be hung for his party's malfeasance and interferance with the administration.

"...........in order to slow down the Gonernment's progress with it's manadate."

In a democracy, that is the purpose of an opposition, to question and, if necessary, delay any questionable projects. The opposition in Thailand under Mr Abhisit has its hands full with numerous questionable projects that this maladministration, under the aegis of Ms Yingluck and her big brother, has introduced since its win at the 2011 polls.

Nearly bankrupting the country, with poorly managed scams schemes like the rice pledging and first time car buyers loans, having the court turn down the B350bn flood plan, due to its poor design etc., and even dreaming of loans in the trillions to supposedly finance the building of a High Speed train network. (Notice that plan has gone off the boil recently)

There's no chance of Mr Abhisit being (hung) hanged for any reason. The one that should be dealt with in the manner you suggest is presently in self imposed exile (read scared shitless to enter Thailand) and who has been the architect of this massively damaging fiasco.

Only upon his demise will things start to get back to a more acceptable situation.

[hellodolly]

Bloody EIAs.

How dare the people to be involved.

Absolutely - anybody would think its their money

This is a democratically elected peoples' government - they can do what they want. They have the peoples' mandate. All these pesky NGO's and agitators - how dare they interfere with important government scams schemes that have been carefully thought through to benefit the Shin gang people.

Some will be challenging the hugely beneficial long term rice pledging scam scheme next.

Yes they may have got the Idea from the US where George Bush lifted the ban on offshore oil drilling in Alaska in 2005 without even studying the environmental impact. A shocking decision that wasn't blocked until Obama got in.

Unfortunately in this case the project in question is clearly intended to benefit ordinary people and companies who live/operate in flood risk areas rather than lining corporate coffers and the downside is that completing the EIA might take a year or more which increases the risk of further flooding. The best solution might be to place a contract for the design and EIA studies since you don't actually need to have an approved EIA until construction starts according to my understanding of Thai regulations

Are you saying that the environment should not be considered just go ahead and start building dams? Yes it might set them back a year or two. But this is a permanent structure you don't just go and build one and then say Oh this is wrong it has damaged to much of the environment. Not to mention the people living there.

That attitude is what has gotten the Government into so much trouble all ready. Do any thing involving big money so they can get there nose in the trough.

The land has been there for many years and seen many floods. It won't hurt to make sure you are doing the right thing.

[whybother]

The other paper is reporting that the government has "inked" a 325 bn baht loan deal with a number of banks.

In other words, they've borrowed the money even though they don't know if they'll be able to spend it or not.

[Anon999]

Tongthong Chandrangsu, permanent secretary for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the government accepted the court’s decision and will call a meeting of the National Water and Flood Management Policy tomorrow to discuss details of the court’s ruling and determine if it could be appealed.

He admitted that the court’s verdict could delay the water resources management project while the Finance Ministry would be asked if the Bt350 billion budget for the project will be in jeopardy.

He gave assurances that the government would communicate with the public about the project and that it would inform the four bid winners. (MCOT online news)

Talk to the public,... Alright then,... Redshirt-Snipers get ready to shoot some pesky Anti government people

"Alright then,... Redshirt-Snipers get ready to shoot some pesky Anti government people" I think that might be a pretty good idea. "have breached the Law" <deleted> does that mean. That our oposition, incapable of doing a day's legimate service to the Nation and are busy assembling spoilers in the dozens in order to slow down the Gonernment's progress with it's manadate. Abhisit should be hung for his party's malfeasance and interferance with the administration.

The purpose of the Opposition Party is to "oppose" . . . why do you think Abhisit should be hung for trying to restrict the excesses of the current Govt?

Tatsujin I think IndyUK would feel at home in Venezuela sounds like the ideal place for him.

[witsawakorn]

Bloody EIAs.

How dare the people to be involved.

Absolutely - anybody would think its their money

This is a democratically elected peoples' government - they can do what they want. They have the peoples' mandate. All these pesky NGO's and agitators - how dare they interfere with important government scams schemes that have been carefully thought through to benefit the Shin gang people.

Some will be challenging the hugely beneficial long term rice pledging scam scheme next.

Yes they may have got the Idea from the US where George Bush lifted the ban on offshore oil drilling in Alaska in 2005 without even studying the environmental impact. A shocking decision that wasn't blocked until Obama got in.

Unfortunately in this case the project in question is clearly intended to benefit ordinary people and companies who live/operate in flood risk areas rather than lining corporate coffers and the downside is that completing the EIA might take a year or more which increases the risk of further flooding. The best solution might be to place a contract for the design and EIA studies since you don't actually need to have an approved EIA until construction starts according to my understanding of Thai regulations

Are you saying that the environment should not be considered just go ahead and start building dams? Yes it might set them back a year or two. But this is a permanent structure you don't just go and build one and then say Oh this is wrong it has damaged to much of the environment. Not to mention the people living there.

That attitude is what has gotten the Government into so much trouble all ready. Do any thing involving big money so they can get there nose in the trough.

The land has been there for many years and seen many floods. It won't hurt to make sure you are doing the right thing.

I said " The best solution might be to place a contract for the design and EIA studies". I didn't suggest that the environment shouldn't be considered although that was GWB's crazy approach to getting oil companies access to Alaska.Thailand's EIA process requires public consultation which will be difficult if the design hasn't been prepared. It also makes sense to place the EIA/design contracts early as it gets the ball rolling without having to commit huge sums of money

[Ricardo]

WATER MANAGEMENT

Court orders studies on water plan

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK,

NAKARIN SRILERT

THE NATION

Yeeeaaaaaah Give me money,.... taxpayers' money.... here we go!!!!

Who are these people and what are they celebrating? Captions please!

"Thailand's Olympic-team for Committee-Arm-Wrestling Starts Training for 2016"

"Another Blow for Democracy as PM-Yingluck Misses A Photo-Opportunity !"

"Pass-The-Parcel Contest for a Free Education-Ministry Tablet-Computer !"

"Scramble for Keys to Pink Bentley, One Careful Owner, No-Longer Needed for Diplomatic-Missions !"

Edited June 29, 2013 by Ricardo