Thailand’s Strategic Committee for Water Resources
Management meeting on Friday approved eight strategic plans and
initially prepared two million rai for holding water following the
country’s worst flood in decades last year which devastated vast areas
of the kingdom and have left more than 600 people dead.
Chairing the meeting, Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra urged related personnel to be clearly assigned to take charge
and appropriately manage each plan before going forward with a budget
framework.
The plans are expected to be submitted to the cabinet
next week.
The schemes include a forest and ecosystem
restoration plan with related forest bills to be drafted; annual water
management proposals for the whole country, including major dams to
prevent future floods; flood embankments development for existing
buildings for efficient drainage and water resistance; data and
meteorological warning system improvement with a national water
information system centre established to link with related agencies.
Other strategies include solution plans in case of
immediate floods in significant areas such as communities, industrial
estates and national heritage sites; a proposal on which designated
areas to receive floodwaters to protect other important places along
with measures to provide special compensation for those shouldering the
burden; a plan to set up an integrated water management organization
which can immediately make decisions in time of crises; and lastly a
scheme to create the understanding of mega water management procedures
and priorities among all sectors through participation and acceptance.
Regarding water-retention areas for long-term flood
prevention, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry initially
estimated that it will require at least two million rai of land, so that
the ministry must seek cooperation from landowners, according to
committee secretary Wichien Chavalit. (MCOT)
