NCPO revives idea of water ministry, source says

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NCPO revives idea of water ministry, source says
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL COUNCIL for Peace and Order (NCPO) is planning to set up a water ministry, an informed source said yesterday.

The source said the NCPO had consulted several agencies during the past month about this idea.

"The NCPO is expected to set up a national water commission to work further on this plan."

The plan is similar to former deputy prime minister Plodprasop Suraswadi's idea of upgrading the Office of the National Water and Flood Management Policy into a ministry.

But in fact even before Plodprasop came to office, the idea of a water ministry had been circulating for at least two decades. Several politicians and officials wanted to establish such a ministry in the hope of managing water-related issues better.

Thailand faces both droughts and floods every year. The latest flood crisis hit the country in 2011, submerging seven industrial estates and displacing millions of people.

The Office of the National Water and Flood Management Policy was established in the wake of the 2011 flood disaster. Although it remains in operation, government officials from other relevant agencies have stopped coming to work at this office.

Apparently, it has already stopped functioning as a single-command centre.

Even its secretary-general Suphot Tovichakchaikul, who is also deputy permanent secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, was not seen at the office yesterday.


-- The Nation 2014-06-25

[clockman]

But they still get paid?

[NongKhaiKid]

But they still get paid?

Actively inactive ?

[EricBerg]

Upgrading to a ministry sounds good. The costs of the 2011 floods were huge. A ministry will have more status for consulting foreign watermanagement experts. And no need to make it some huge institution with heaps of civil servants and managers.

Good watermanagement can bring profits to the country and perhaps prevent some disasters.

[chainarong]

That's if the administration doesn't have a systematic breakdown of management at all levels , Thailand's government departments are either asleep at the wheel or are in dither land on most subjects when it comes to making some sort of decisions , take the Gold mine in Loie issue ,, Health , Environmental and Mines departments never lifted a hand in determining the cause , never prosecuted, never even went and had a look, the army went to the rescue for the community concerned, even though these three departments were all concerned in obligations, a charter stepping out the obligations for the water Ministry should spell out very loud and clear it's responsibilities.

[bangrak]

But, but, when they put it all in one ministry, when anything goes wrong how will the guys inside it be able to deny responsibility and blame others? No more 'it's not me, it's ...'? That's impossible, someone could suffer loss of face then, you know! And forget Plodprasop, he only wanted it to get the same huge kick-backs as the guys at the transport ministry he was envious of! LOL

Seriously now: yes, please, do it, but do it well, that everything there is, and remains, clear and transparent (as clean water should be), managed by accountable(!) professionals, and manned with real, true, responsible specialists...

[MaiChai]

Thailand suffers floods almost every year. It makes sense that it is managed by a ministry. Canals need to dug and maintained, the whole thing needs a coordinated effort in managing floodgates and water levels.