'Areas facing floods will be revealed'

“The accuracy of the forecasts may not be 100-per-cent precise, but will be based on analyses and expected to yield closest results,” she said at a press interview at Government House. “For example, storms and monsoons anticipated in certain areas may occur elsewhere.”
The prime minister said one thing the public would surely be told was the progress of flood prevention work and budgets earmarked for relevant projects.
Yingluck also dismissed media criticism that the bidding process for flood prevention work was rushed and greater importance had been placed on foreign companies than local bidders. She said there were many Thai-owned companies tendering for the projects, and the process was open to everyone.
Asked about details of flood prevention projects as the government nears the first anniversary of its declaration of a master flood and water management plan to Parliament, she said the construction of infrastructure was 70-per-cent done, while flood and water management plans had been integrated. Details would be made public no later than next month.
Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee said a press conference would be held on July 24 for the media and opposition to clarify claims that the government rushed its bidding process.
Plodprasob also accused the Democrat Party of campaigning against a planned weather study project by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) at U-Tapao naval airbase in Chon Buri, because it wanted to keep from the public a Nasa study showing that the massive flood last year resulted from mismanagement by the previous government.
He challenged the Democrat Party to file defamation lawsuits against him, and also against Nasa scientists, so that he could clarify issues about the project in court.
The press conference will be held at the main auditorium of the National Science and Technology Development Agency in the Science Park compound in Pathum Thani.
Meanwhile, more than 200 people gathered outside district offices in Bang Khae and Bang Khen in the north and east of Bangkok respectively, to demand Bt20,000 in compensation for their homes being flooded last year. They dispersed peacefully after being promised that their demand would be passed on to relevant agencies.
Assawat Apaiwongse, an adviser to Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaiphibool, said he learned that the rallies were organised by Pheu Thai MPs. He said the MPs should have led protesters to rally at Government House, as the extra money would be approved by the Pheu Thai-led government, not by the Democrat-ruled Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.