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| Off to the dump Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra inspects a flooddevastated area during the Big Cleaning Day in Don Muang district yesterday. Thousands of residents joined the event as authorities declared the district will be completely dry in three to five days. |
The government yesterday promised that economic areas, industrial estates and major cities will be spared from severe flooding next year after national flood prevention measures are completed.
The government's master plan for flood management will be ready shortly, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong told a meeting of chambers of commerce nationwide at a hotel in Rayong.
The plan will guarantee that damage from any flooding next year will not be as severe as this year, even if rainfall is equal or to more more than 2011.
Mr Kittiratt said that when the plan is in place, economic zones, industrial estates and major cities would be safe from flooding.
In fact, only limited areas of farmland would be affected by floods and the government would see to it that proper compensation would be paid affected farmers, Mr Kittiratt said.
He said the government will meet with the armed forces and concerned agencies today to discuss plans to build floodways.
Aerial surveys have been made of areas on the eastern and western sides of the Chao Phraya River to determine possible locations for building the floodways.
Mr Kittiratt said floodway construction would require significant sums and take a long time, although the effort would be worthwhile and could benefit the economy .
Mr Kittiratt added that when construction gets underway, land will have to be expropriated, but the government will try to ensure that impacts from the projects are kept to a minimum.
He said the government will soon reveal a master plan for managing the country's 25 river basins, as well as a short-term water management plan to prepare for the next rainy season, which starts in May.
Other urgent measures include dredging and digging canals, repairing broken sluice gates and keeping count of water pumps. The government will expedite efforts to complete the work in the next five months before the rainy season gets underway.
Mr Kittiratt noted that during the flood crisis, many agencies received funds to purchase water pumps but none of them have produced receipts or showed proof that the money had actually been spent on the devices.
He also tried to allay concerns raised by the private sector about possible corruption in the government's post-flood rehabilitation projects.
He said that former deputy prime minister, Virabongsa Ramangkura, chairman of the government-installed Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development, would ensure that the funding for the projects will be spent prudently and transparently.
Mr Virabongsa said all of the country's sluice gates will be improved to meet approved standards and that a major drill to regulate the opening and closing of all the sluice gates should be held twice a year.
He said a computerised system would be brought in to regulate sluice gates and replace manpower and ensure there would be enough large water pumps installed in all flood-risk areas.
Mr Virabongsa said he would try to seek financing for all of the projects from domestic sources and that there was no need to borrow from foreign countries.
A survey of 420 executives at the chambers of commerce meeting found that 77% of respondents said the proposed flood management mega-projects were a worthwhile investment,
University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce vice-rector Saowanee Thairungroj said. A total 75% said construction of floodways should be the top priority, while 59% suggested taxes should be collected to fund flood prevention efforts.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will today hold a special cabinet meeting to review the budget for restoring flood-damaged public facilities and to prevent duplication of projects proposed by various agencies.
To prepare for today's special meeting, Ms Yingluck yesterday met with a few ministers to discuss details of the proposals that will be considered at the special cabinet meeting.
Yesterday's meeting was attended by Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, Mr Kittiratt and Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat.
Mr Kittiratt said that today's special cabinet meeting will consider abandoning any of the existing state projects that would duplicate the new post-flood rehabilitation projects, such as efforts to repair existing highways or railways.
Mr Kittiratt said the cabinet will also need to ensure that fresh projects to restore flood-hit community enterprises do not duplicate the government's existing village fund projects, or the existing small, medium and large (SML) community development project.
Today's meeting will ensure more clarity in spending on flood recovery, Mr Kittiratt said. Ministers who were not in attendance at yesterday's meeting will have a chance to discuss the plans at today's meeting.
Ms Yingluck said she had instructed all provincial governors to oversee post-flood relief and recovery efforts.
She also told the Interior Ministry to coordinate and integrate flood relief and recovery operations among all concerned ministries to help flood victims in Bangkok.
Low-priced food under the government's Blue Flag scheme will also be carried on trucks for sale around the capital, she said. Also, the government is coordinating with insurance companies to speed up compensation payments for insured vehicles damaged by floods.
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