Government Invites Thai and Foreign Firms to Join Thailand’s Overall Water Management

(05/07/2012)

Interested consulting firms in Thailand and abroad have been invited to propose a conceptual plan for Thailand’s overall water management. The Minister of Science and Technology, Plodprasop Suraswadi, said that the Government had approved the terms of reference (TOR) for hiring a consultant to join the comprehensive water management project. As for foreign firms, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will assign Thai embassies overseas to send invitations to them. The Thai government will spend about 300 billion baht to carry out the country’s water management, which consists of 14 projects. According to the TOR, qualified consulting firms must have experience in working with their own governments, and they are required to have an investment fund of at least 30 billion baht. After their conceptual plans have been submitted to the Government, three qualified companies, or consortiums, will be selected. In the final selection, only one company will be selected to work out detailed designs for the projects. Interested firms may obtain TOR documents at the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, or at the Office of the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee. Details of the TOR will be publicized through various media channels, such as radio, television, and print media for a period of one month. Mr. Plodprasop stressed that every country would have an equal opportunity to be selected, saying that Thailand needs modern technology to tackle water problems. He said that the Government would work with transparency in handling the projects, which involve plans to rehabilitate reservoirs, canals, water sluice gates, and water retention areas. They also include emergency response plans, city planning, water diversion, the construction of permanent dykes, the establishment of a new organization, such as a Water Ministry, and protecting Bangkok from subsidence. He said that project areas cover eight Chao Phraya River basins and another 17 river basins. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that she was satisfied with water management in major dams, but was concerned about the slow pace of infrastructure development for flood prevention. She stressed the need to accelerate the construction of certain facilities to cope with possible flooding in the rainy season. The Prime Minister instructed all ministers responsible for water management to ensure effective flood prevention. She also told the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to link the disaster warning system with the Office of the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee. The Prime Minister will follow up on the meeting on water management every week.