Measures in place to prevent another disaster: Virabongsa
Economic guru Virabongsa Ramangkura on Saturday assured the business community that the government would do everything to ensure no flood disaster at this scale in the years to come.
In his speech delivered at Thai Chamber of Commerce's annual conference here entitled "Get United against Floods, For the Future of Thai Business", he said plans are being mapped out for the short and long term which will include stronger law enforcement on land expropriation for greater water management efficiency.
"What we have done and will do is to assure foreign and local investors. The biggest problem we have to deal with now concerns insurance companies which still refuse to renew insurance policies," he said. He has so far given such assurance to Japanese companies and the European trade chamber.
"Under the master plan, we will need to invest more and Thailand is in the position to finance it thanks to years of trade surpluses. With the public debts in the controllable level of 40 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product), we can borrow more. Yet, we need to ensure efficient investment.
He also confirmed the figure of flood losses of Bt1.3 trillion, way above the loss experienced in the previous flood disaster in 1942.
Leading a government committee tasked to lay out investment plans, Virabongsa said that one of the most urgent measures is to put in place an efficient plan to manage rainwater next year. A single command agency would also be set up to integrate the nationwide water management which is now carried out by the national, provincial and village levels. The water management system would cover all water channels, particularly the Chao Phraya River. Meanwhile, IT would be included to enhance efficiency, like in the opening and closing of sluice gates which is manually controlled now. He also called for flood drills, earthen barrier strengthening and sufficient provision and maintenance of water pumps.
"We also foresee greater coordination with other governments like the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden, to modernise our water management system," he said.
Importantly, he said that Thailand would need to strengthen law enforcement, if properties blocking the floodway have to be removed.
In the long term, Virabongsa sees the need to balance sufficient water resources for industrial and agricultural sectors, protection to industrial estates, and the construction of monkey cheeks and floodways in the East and West of Thailand.
"The government will have to ensure the efficiency in allocating the Bt800 billion investment. There would also be a public hearing particularly on law enforcement, to ensure that all can live in harmony with floods," he said.
