Thailand’s Water Management to Be Handled Systematically to Fight the Flood Problem

(03/10/2011)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has stressed the need to handle water management of the whole country in a systematic manner, in order to fight the flood problem effectively. The Prime Minister spoke of the flood situation in her first weekly radio program “The Yingluck Government Meets the People,” broadcast on Radio Thailand on 1 October 2011. She urged water management experts to join forces with the Government in the water management efforts, saying that this issue is part of the national agenda and will involve both preventive and warning systems. She stated that, since the flood problem is related to the country’s geographical features, water management needs to be handled systematically for the entire country. The Prime Minister cited the ongoing flood situation, which began in July, as a very severe problem. The Government had granted permission for provincial governors to approve a fund of 100 million baht, an increase from 50 million baht, to cope with the flood problem. The Cabinet also offered compensation for flood-hit families and their farmland. Prime Minister Yingluck expressed her deep appreciation to His Majesty the King for his advice on tackling the flood problem and giving her moral support to handle the situation. In response to His Majesty’s advice, the Prime Minister said that she had instructed relevant agencies to accelerate pushing floodwater out into the sea at seven major points, such as at Khlong Lat Pho in Samut Prakan province. The royal advice on water retention and reforestation would also be emphasized, as well as the policy on water management for 25 river basins nationwide. A master plan will be worked out for the medium and long terms in order to deal effectively with the flood situation. Prime Minister Yingluck said that the Government had opened the hotline 1784 to receive complaints and information from the general public. It has set up a "war room" to work around the clock in an attempt to handle the flood, storm, and landslide situations. After the floods subside, the Government will focus its attention on rehabilitation to quickly return all affected communities to normalcy. The Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Social Development and human Security were told to seek ways to generate more employment to help affected people. The Prime Minister said that the Government had received donations, which now amount to 363 million baht now, to assist flood victims. The floods have claimed almost 200 lives. According to the Ministry of Public Health, about 33,000 people in 33 flood-hit provinces have been under stress. Special care has been given to the provinces of Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, and Phichit. Emergency medical services will also be offered for flood victims around the clock. For more information, please contact the hotline 1669.