Thai govt warned hasty new flood-control measures could fail

[webfact]

Govt warned hasty new flood-control measures could fail

By The Nation

 

Photo credit / FBHannarong Yaowalers

 

BANGKOK: -- SEVERAL government agencies are busy preparing water management projects for the Cabinet to consider during its upcoming mobile meeting.

The move, however, has worried activists who feel the projects may be too rushed. 

 

“If relevant agencies hurry too much, there is a risk of getting big projects – but not practical solutions,” Foundation for Integration of Water Management president Hannarong Yaowalers said yesterday. 

 

He spoke after hearing that the Royal Irrigation Department had been instructed to complete water management plans for the Northeast by Thursday so they could be tabled before the mobile Cabinet meeting next week. 

 

The Cabinet will have a mobile meeting in the major Northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday and Monday. When Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha headed to the Southern province of Surat Thani last year, more than 100 projects were approved with the goal of helping the South fight floods, Hannarong said. 

 

“But studies revealed later that the main obstacles for the South’s water management are obstruction of water flow and the need to find more water retention areas,” he said. “This means before the Cabinet approves any project for the Northeast, it should identify the root cause of floods there first.” 

 

Since July 5, floods have ravaged 44 provinces, upsetting the lives of about 1.9 million people and causing 32 deaths. 

 

At present, 11 provinces remain flooded, seven of which are in the Northeast. 

 

Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday that Prayut placed a strong emphasis on flood prevention. 

 

“He has ordered all relevant agencies to closely monitor the water situation and prepare proper water management,” Sansern said.

As the rainy season continues, managing huge water volumes could prove to be a huge challenge for the government. 

 

To boost water management efficiency, Prayut has decided to put the Water Resources Department under the Office of the Prime Minister. 

 

It was announced last week that Prayut would exercise his special powers as the National Council for Peace and Order chief to transfer the department. 

 

The department’s director-general, Worasart Apaipong, said yesterday the transfer was aimed at integrating water management efforts and delivering efficient and fast solutions to water issues. 

 

“When we are under the Office of the Prime Minister, we will take orders directly from the prime minister. This way, we should be able to quickly win cooperation from other relevant agencies,” Worasart said. 

 

According to Sansern, Prayut will today hold a meeting with the chiefs of the Meteorological Department, the Water Resources Department, the Royal Irrigation Department and various agencies with water-related missions to promote coordination. 

 

As of press time, flood threats were growing in the country’s South. Krabi’s disaster prevention and mitigation chief Paisan Khunsri warned people in eight districts to watch out for landslides and flash floods. People living along Phanom Benja Mountain Range were at particular risk.

 

Flash floods from the mountain range killed one woman in Krabi’s Khao Phanom district yesterday. While she was driving on a local road, a flash flood swept her vehicle into a canal. Although more than 100 rescue workers and local residents rushed to help, she was dead when they reached her. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30323794

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-15

[Samui Bodoh]

Now that the PM has been warned by experts that his policies might not work, will he be liable for a criminal charge of negligence if there are further floods in Thailand? And if so, will his assets be confiscated?

 

Just askin'

 

[inThailand]

Prior to the general, didn't the goverment authorize some 50 billion to address the flooding problem? 

[mtls2005]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Now that the PM has been warned by experts that his policies might not work, will he be liable for a criminal charge of negligence if there are further floods in Thailand? And if so, will his assets be confiscated?

 

Just askin'

 

 

No. And, no.

 

He granted himself amnesty in perpetuity.

 

 

[inThailand]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Now that the PM has been warned by experts that his policies might not work, will he be liable for a criminal charge of negligence if there are further floods in Thailand? And if so, will his assets be confiscated?

 

Just askin'

 

Article 44 is also a saviour!

[lovelomsak]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Now that the PM has been warned by experts that his policies might not work, will he be liable for a criminal charge of negligence if there are further floods in Thailand? And if so, will his assets be confiscated?

 

Just askin'

 

I feel there is a better chance the experts will be charged with defamation. Next tine they will keep quiet.

[DM07]

...as opposed the old ones, which were carefully crafted and worked so well???


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[gummy]

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Now that the PM has been warned by experts that his policies might not work, will he be liable for a criminal charge of negligence if there are further floods in Thailand? And if so, will his assets be confiscated?

 

Just askin'

 

The jurisdiction of the Thai courts does not extend to the British Virgin Islands so the billions of baht there will be quite safe

[hansnl]

The cause of the water problem?

Deforestation.

The solution?

Planting millions of trees!

 

All the rest of the solutions are just cosmetic, short term, temporary bandages.

 

[Ulic]

The flood prevention programs have always failed in the past why should it be any

different now. Have they brought Dutch consultants in or something.

[NCC1701A]

 

[inThailand]

1 hour ago, hansnl said:

The cause of the water problem?

Deforestation.

The solution?

Planting millions of trees!

 

All the rest of the solutions are just cosmetic, short term, temporary bandages.

 

Or in Thai fashion, cement over all the land to let the water drain faster to the neighboring countries.

Edited August 15, 2017 by inThailand
fat fingers

[kaorop]

5 hours ago, inThailand said:

Prior to the general, didn't the goverment authorize some 50 billion to address the flooding problem? 

Probably, but unlike water, most everything money is thrown at here only sees a trickle gets thru.

 

Mind you since 2011 I have seen many major works dredging rivers and walling sizable drains thru cities etc.etc., so something is being done,  how much and how well, i've no idea.

 

[55Jay]

Not that many years ago, saw a detailed study by some Thai University up North, fleshing out Thailand's watershed system - starting at the top of the country on down to the Gulf, and the NE quadrant to the Mekong.  That, to me, seemed like the type of product (or one like it) the gov't could use to approach water management, flood mitigation, and (agricultural) irrigation projects in a logical, comprehensive manner. 

 

But every year we seem to lurch from crisis to crisis, drought to flood, flood to drought, like it's the first time all over again.  

 

Surely, after all these decades of accumulated experience and knowledge of Thailand's watershed, there exists a comprehensive, coordinated management and mitigation plan based on science, technology and engineering.   And the good efforts I, and others, have seen in recent dry seasons in our respective provinces and Amphur regions, are part of a 15-year national strategy.  The Big Picture.  The Master Plan. 

 

Edit: And that's not taking the piss really.  Even the best laid plans will fail in unusually extreme situations, even in my own country.  But routinely?  Every year? 

Edited August 15, 2017 by 55Jay