We need to protect jobs and estates in Ayutthaya: PM
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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asked for a sympathy yesterday when defending a policy in the flood management plan to build barriers around industrial estates in Ayutthaya - likely to result in nearby farms and homes being inundated.
She denied that the government was more worried about businesses than common villagers.
“The barrier policy does not mean that the government wants to save the estates without caring for the residents. But it’s important that if foreign business owners are not made confident about the flood prevention plan, and relocate from Thailand as a result, local residents will not be hired,” she said.
“The barrier policy is an immediate solution to prevent flooding, in the meantime while a long-term measure is chosen and put in place. We don’t want to keep everyone on edge [by not implementing the barrier policy] while the long-term measure has not come,” she said.
The Stop Global Warming Association and locals in Ayutthaya plan to lodge a complaint with the Central Administrative Court, to seek an injunction to suspend construction of flood barriers being built by seven industrial parks in the province. They say the barriers will cause damage to nearby homes in the event of future flooding.
Yingluck said it was important for the government to restore foreign investors’ confidence by an overhaul of water/ flood management. On her trip to Japan from today till Friday, many of plans and approved policies will be explained to businessmen and officials to boost their confidence.
She said cooperation from all parties concerned was important to build up confidence among foreign investors.
“They will simply be confused and lack confidence in business opportunities in Thailand if we Thai people differ on our opinions and stance [over flood management],” she said.
PM’s Office Minister Niwat-thamrong Bunsongphaisal said he learnt that locals who want the court to stop the plan were mostly employees of factories in the estates. So, the provincial governor had been assigned to negotiate with them over the bid for an injunction.
