Post-Flood Restoration in Don Mueang and Additional Tax Measures to Help Flood Victims

(30/11/2011)

The United States has launched operations to help rehabilitate the Don Mueang area, which has been worst affected by the flooding in Bangkok. The operations began on November 29 and will continue until December 4. The Cabinet, during its meeting on November 29, approved the American assistance for the restoration of Don Mueang, following a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Defense. The proposal came after the Ministry of Defense on November 26 invited US representatives from the III Marine Expeditionary Force Flood Recovery Command Element and JUSMAGTHAI for a discussion on ways to restore the flooded area. The post-flood restoration process, which is being carried out under the Ministry of Defense’s operation support center, consists 30 staff members, one helicopter, six water pumps, and other equipment. At the same meeting, the Cabinet agreed to waive customs duties on imported machinery and components brought in to replace or repair those damaged by the flooding. The entrepreneurs whose workplaces are located in flood-affected areas will benefit from the waiver. However, the areas must have been declared disaster zones by the Director-General of the Department of Disaster Mitigation and Prevention or respective provincial governors. The Cabinet also decided to waive import duties on vehicles brought in temporarily to offset a domestic supply shortage. Car manufacturers whose factories are located in flooded areas will be entitled to the tax benefit. The Cabinet approved the exemption of import duties on auto parts, as well. These tariff-free privileges are effective from 25 October 2011 to 30 June 2012. Meanwhile, Mr. Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Planning and Short-Term Solutions, under the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management, said that a meeting of the subcommittee had worked out four short-term measures for flood solutions. The first measure seeks to manage water resources by placing emphasis on not only irrigation but also flood prevention. The second one seeks to repair flood-related facilities, such as floodgates and embankments, to be completed in the next four months, in time for the rainy season in May next year. The third measure involves assistance in the form of compensation given to the people who are faced with recurring floods on their farmland, or on their plots of land that have been used as kam ling water retention sites. The fourth one seeks to accelerate water drainage in both the eastern and western parts of Bangkok, particularly in canals with a large volume of garbage, and those affected by encroachment. The Royal Irrigation Department, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and local administration units will work closely together to deal with this problem.