Future water projects to be monitored

[Lite Beer]

Future water projects to be monitored
Wasu Vipoosanapat
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Civil society groups will continue to "doggedly monitor" state water projects and take action against any government that causes problems to the public, an environmental activist who sued the previous premier warned.

Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Junya was speaking after the Supreme Administrative Court rejected his case yesterday. He said the ruling saddened him.

Srisuwan expressed concern over a new draft of the water-management plan, which is a part of the National Council for Peace and Order's policies.

"If we find that [a project] would lead to environmental damage, rather than benefit from development, we will sue the officials involved. Civil society will dog this issue tenaciously. We will take action against any government that hurts the people."

The court yesterday dismissed the suit against then-PM Yingluck Shinawatra and three agencies - the National Water and Flood Policy Commission, the Water and Flood Management Commission and the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management - for alleged negligence over the Bt350-billion water management scheme.

The court reversed a lower court's ruling, saying that the project was just a draft plan and had not yet been implemented. Therefore, it posed no environmental or health impacts on local residents.

The court also ruled that they had no responsibility to arrange the legal process or make a consideration with the defendants.

In 2013, Srisuwan lodged the petition to the Central Administrative Court, accusing then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and other relevant officials of carrying out plans without first holding public hearings as legally required. He urged the court to block the projects.

The other officials sued were then chairman of Water and Flood Management Committee, Plodprasop Suraswadi, and two other ministers in Yingluck's government.

In the same year, the court ordered the government must conduct public hearings and environmental and health impact studies before starting any water project.

Under the plan modules, construction of flood-prevention facilities - including 21 dams, floodways and monkey cheeks - is envisaged.

Srisuwan said the verdict would make environmental groups worker harder, adding that they would continue to closely monitor water management projects with every government if they look to cause environmental impacts.

The court also ruled that private companies that undertake water projects in the future must accommodate public participation or the involvement of local people via Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental Health Impact Assessments (EHIAs). Otherwise, the government in charge of the projects could later turn them down.

The NCPO's water management draft is making progress after public hearings on water-usage problems were held in September.

If the plan is approved, implementation will start next year.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Future-water-projects-to-be-monitored-30246753.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-01

[ChrisY1]

But all the monies that went missing in the last water management project, can stay with the people that stole it....!!

[rickirs]

Interesting term "Monkey Cheeks"

The Nation February 28, 2012

MONKEY CHEEK AREAS NEED CAREFUL MANAGEMENT, EXPERT WARNS

"Monkey cheek" is a description used by HM the King that refers to water retention areas. It stems from monkeys' ability to store water in their cheeks."

"... if "monkey cheek" areas were made to take water too early, a second wave of runoff - possibly of larger volume - could pour in fast, and could become difficult for officials to control ..."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Monkey-cheek-areas-need-careful-management-expert--30176826.html

[billd766]

Quote "Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Junya was speaking after the Supreme Administrative Court rejected his case yesterday. He said the ruling saddened him. Srisuwan expressed concern over a new draft of the water-management plan, which is a part of the National Council for Peace and Order's policies. "If we find that [a project] would lead to environmental damage, rather than benefit from development, we will sue the officials involved. Civil society will dog this issue tenaciously. We will take action against any government that hurts the people."

Has Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Junya come up with ANY alternative plans or is he against everything? Does he for example live in a flood prone area as people living in those areas need flood protection wherever possible.

It is easy to be negative but much more difficult to come up with a viable alternative plan.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Corruption (alleged) will be monitored.

monitored doesn't mean fixed !!!