Short- and Long-Term Operations Approved for Water Management

(08/12/2011)

The Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management has approved guidelines for addressing immediate flood problems and placed an emphasis on the conservation and rehabilitation of watershed areas in handling sustainable water management. The committee, during its meeting on December 6 chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, discussed both short- and long-term operations for water resources management in a systematic manner. In the short-term operations, the meeting agreed with the subcommittee on planning and short-term solutions, chaired by Mr. Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya, to cooperate with the Japan International Cooperation Agency in setting up a data system in which Japan has expertise, so that accurate information about the volume of water next year would be estimated. This would help create confidence in Thailand’s flood prevention and control among the people and both local and foreign investors. The meeting stressed the need to come up with a comprehensive plan on water drainage in particular areas, such as industrial estates and communities. City planning in Bangkok must be clear, with a focus on flood prevention and control. As part of the long-term operations, the meeting agreed to set up a subcommittee on the conservation and rehabilitation of the watershed area, chaired by M.R. Disnadda Diskul, Director of the Doi Tung Development Projecti. The subcommittee, with Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul, Secretary-General of the Chaipattana Foundation, as advisor, was told to start its operations in line with the master plan on water resources management. Meanwhile, the Cabinet, during its meeting on December 6, approved the establishment of the Secretariat to the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development as an agency within the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board. The secretariat will initially be equipped with 30 staff members, to be selected from the new generation of civil servants by the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission. The Cabinet also approved an initial fund of 150 million baht from the 2012 national budget for the operations of the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development, chaired by Dr. Virabongsa Ramangkura. At the same meeting, the Cabinet approved a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate visa applications for foreign experts and engineers who would enter Thailand to assist in the flood rehabilitation and recovery in the long run. The Government will waive visa fees for them. The Ministry of Labor was also told to facilitate work permit applications and waive work permit fees for these experts and engineers on a special basis.