Threat from typhoon Wuthip eases: Cabinet endorses establishment of water ministry

[webfact]

WUTHIP
Threat from typhoon eases
The Nation



Heavy rain expected, cabinet gives green light to establishment of water ministry

BANGKOK: -- WITH TYPHOON Wutip rapidly heading for a downgrade to a low-pressure ridge yesterday, some Thais heaved a sigh of relief but many remained on the lookout for another coming storm.

Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, who chairs the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC), yesterday confirmed that Wutip's threat had diminished.

"The severity of Wutip is less than initially expected," he said.

But he added that Wutip would still cause heavy rain in some provinces.

Still at risk of possible natural disasters were Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Kalasin, Nong Khai, Beung Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Loei, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun.

Heavy inundation

Floodwaters in Chaiyaphum have reached between 50 and 70 centimetres since the arrival of Wutip.

"We are now facing the worst floods in half a century," Poj Piromkij said on behalf of more than 200 families in Tambon Talad Laeng in Chaiyaphum's Ban Khwao district.

All three main roads to the local villages had been under floodwater several metres deep for two weeks, he said.

"And now Wutip comes with more downpours," Poj said.

He said the torrents of floodwater were so strong that boats without engines could hardly move.

According to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, floods have now ravaged 25 provinces.

Flood-related deaths during the past few weeks have reached 23 and more than 2 million rai of farmland have been flooded.

One of the hardest-hit provinces is Prachin Buri, which was visited by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Sunday.

Plodprasop said flooding in Prachin Buri should ease within one week, if no more rain arrived.

However, he said a monsoon trough was now hovering over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing more rain.

"If the wind is strong, it may affect Chanthaburi and Prachin Buri," Plodprasop said.

He remained confident that floods would not hit Bangkok, however.

"We have worked closely with the Bangkok Metropolitan Adminis-tration and we have already implemented efficient flood-prevention steps," Plodprasop said.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, meanwhile, inspected water levels in areas downstream of the Pasak Jolasid Dam in Lop Buri.

He too assured residents of the capital that the situation was not worrying.

"We are ready to deal with the situation, including downpours that will likely fall on the capital [today and tomorrow]," he said.

Deputy Government spokeswoman Sunisa Lertpakawat said the Cabinet had given the WFMC the green light to prepare a draft law to establish a Water Ministry if it believed it was needed to achieve efficient long-term water management.

The approval was granted after Plodprasop told the Cabinet that the Water Ministry would ensure integrated and efficient water management and respond well to the government's Bt350-billion water-management modules.

The government approved a Bt350-billion budget to overhaul the country's water-management systems in the wake of the 2011 flood crisis, which claimed hundreds of lives and caused massive economic damage.

-- The Nation 2013-10-02

[webfact]

Cabinet endorses establishment of water ministry

BANGKOK, 2 October 2013 (NNT) – The Cabinet on Tuesday approved, in principle, the establishment of a water ministry.

At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, endorsement was given to the draft bill for the establishment of the ministry of water, with the aim of fostering systematic management of the country's water resources. The flood and water management committee, chaired by deputy prime minister Plodpradop Surasawadi, has been assigned to handle the legalities associated with the creation of the new ministry.

Mr. Plodprasop said after the Cabinet meeting that officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and several other agencies will be invited to discuss the setting up of the new ministry, after contract signing for the 350 billion baht water management infrastructure with private companies is completed.

Mr. Plodprasop also noted that the new ministry is needed to foster efficient management of long-term flood-prevention.


-- NNT 2013-10-02

[Thai at Heart]

Cabinet endorses establishment of water ministry

BANGKOK, 2 October 2013 (NNT) The Cabinet on Tuesday approved, in principle, the establishment of a water ministry.

At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, endorsement was given to the draft bill for the establishment of the ministry of water, with the aim of fostering systematic management of the country's water resources. The flood and water management committee, chaired by deputy prime minister Plodpradop Surasawadi, has been assigned to handle the legalities associated with the creation of the new ministry.

Mr. Plodprasop said after the Cabinet meeting that officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and several other agencies will be invited to discuss the setting up of the new ministry, after contract signing for the 350 billion baht water management infrastructure with private companies is completed.

Mr. Plodprasop also noted that the new ministry is needed to foster efficient management of long-term flood-prevention.

-- NNT 2013-10-02

Why does this stink like 2 week old flood water.. What is he up to?

[theblether]

I had dinner with a Thai lady last night who said........now wait for it........prepare yourself.

"Thailand floods every year, what's the fuss?"

Stunned at this statement I pressed the question.......

"Yes, it was bad two years ago, but that was a once in 50 years event"

Amazed at this prescience I continued........and here comes a statement......

"What needs to be done to stop flooding, we don't want to do. We don't want dams everywhere, we've lived with floods for a thousand years. What's bad for the towns is good for the fields, you farangs need to get over it".

Protesting that I wasn't that bothered cos I live on the fifth floor I returned to my meal feeling suitably chastened.

That, by the way is the second time I've heard a Thai say that recently........" What's bad for the towns is good for the fields". The last one also said that we humans were out of order building on flood plains and making the country a concrete jungle.

Methinks the Thais are very wise.

Just sayin'

[noitom]

He's charged with "handling."

[rametindallas]

"Cabinet endorses establishment of water ministry"

What a great idea. A new ministry with new departments and department heads (jobs for the boys), new civil servants to staff the departments (non of which owe their jobs to a previous government) who will owe their loyalty to the PTP who created those jobs and pays them, and new opportunities for graft and corruption. Whoever thought of this has their star rising in the Puea Thai Party. Will the new ministry be cabinet level? Whatever it is, it will be tightly controlled to serve the Master in Dubai.

[monkeycountry]

It does not really matter what they call the authority in charge of water management, as long as they keep putting idiots with zero skills or expertise like Mr. Plodprasop in charge, which I have no doubt they will :-)

[Emdog]

I had to look at that post twice. Astounding that there isn't a ministry for water (not that it would make any positive difference). BTW I thought "woo tip" was for girl that gives especially happy ending. That Bangkok might be spared sparked my imagination of scene on Titanic "Would everyone please move to the stern. No reason to panic if the rest of ship goes down, we will be dry for the foreseeable future." Glub glub.....

[SOTIRIOS]

...not enough money getting into their hands fast enough....

...ministry of water.......ministry of rain....ministry of wind....ministry of sun...ministry of every day of the week...ministry of every hour of the day...

[siampolee]

was it not Churchill who made a comment concerning urine and flatulence?

How inspiring that this current government deems it wise to heed Churchill's comments and now set up a ministry to administer urine and flatulence.

[monkeycountry]

Jokes aside, imagine if there was a ministry for obsolete officials. Alot, if not most, government officials only have their job because of their family name or because someone owed them or their family a favour. These officials have no idea what they are doing, they are often corrupt, and more often than not they do more harm than good in their effort to extort money or prove to their superiors that they are not completely useless.

If all these officials, and future officials were all employed in the Ministry for Obsolete Officials (name could be changed to make it sound more appealing) and were specifically tasked with doing absolutely nothing, then they would not run around causing trouble for people with real jobs.

Yes, it may sound strange to waste money by hiring alot of people to do nothing, but it is actually better than hiring alot of people to do damage. If they had no responsibilities and no power at all, it would also prevent them from extorting money from everyone through abuse of power. They would simply go to work in the morning, watch tv or take care of private matters all day, go home and at the end of the month collect their pay. Promotions could be given to those who manage to interrupt the lives of the general public the least.

Considering that simply not hiring all of the above mentioned officials is not a realistic option in todays Thailand, I thing the Ministry of Obsolete Officials would be a great alternative, and a win/win for everyone! - and no, I am not joking.