Yingluck mulls flood proposals

Piyanart Srivalo
The Nation



PHITSANULOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra kicked off her five-day flood-inspection tour yesterday with several water-management proposals, including the controversial one on Kaeng Sua Ten Dam, in her hand.

At a meeting in Phitsanulok, Yingluck and her entourage were briefed about flood-prevention projects in 10 provinces located in the upper Central and the lower North regions. Phrae proposed 10 restoration projects and 196 schemes that need urgent implementation worth Bt582 million.

Government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said one of Yingluck's main duties was to keep track of the Bt120 billion sought for several projects, including the Bt40 billion sought for ones that still lacked details and specifications. He said she had ordered Cabinet members to inspect these projects and scrap them if they are found not to be relevant or lacking in details.

The budget allocated for projects that end up being scrapped would be added to a communal fund that can be used for more important schemes. A budget clinic would be set up at Government House to regulate funds and consider incoming requests, he said.

Anusorn quoted Yingluck as saying that only projects under the government or local administrative bodies such as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration that are permanent, substantial and practical would be approved.

He said Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee, who was present at the Phitsanulok meeting, slammed the BMA for seeking Bt319 million to dredge Bangkok's 18 canals, saying it was far too much money for an easy job.

However, the spokesman did not give details about how the government responded to the proposed Kaeng Sua Ten Dam project in Phrae province, which local residents say would result in a large portion of the country's most fertile forests being flooded while doing little to prevent the yearly inundation.

Yingluck's team will be visiting several locations in the country, particularly key river basins that are frequently flooded. The team is preparing to design new projects for overall flood and water management while intending to improve those existing to make sure they would cope with the problem better in coming years.