Govt to host forum on strategy

The government will for the first time hold a big event to explain to the public how it has been working to prevent a repeat of last year’s disastrous floods.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will also organise a press conference to tell the media about the flood-prevention measures her government has put in place this year.

Concerns about the government’s flood and water management will be addressed by experts and relevant authorities during the three-day event starting on August 30 at Central Plaza Lat Phrao.

“We will answer all questions about what the government has done during the past year and what we will do in future,” Science and Technology Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee said yesterday. He is the chairman of the Water and Flood Management Committee. Exhibition booths and academic forums will aim to educate the public about flooding and water management worldwide. There will also be a focus on irrigation and flood management by the Royal Projects and related agencies.

Volunteer organisations will have booths to raise public awareness about their contributions.

Students will be invited to the quiz zone, where they’ll try their hand at questions about floods and water. If they answer correctly, they’ll win various prizes, such as a bottle of water.

Maps of the “monkey cheek” water-retention areas, floodways, inundation zones and flood-risk areas will be also shown. And there will be a display of the latest water-forecasting technology.

The academic forums during the event will be broadcast on the Internet and radio.

“If you have questions about how to fix your damaged home from floods, the water clinic will help you to resolve problems,” Plodprasob said.

The minister has asked water experts to join the forum to give recommendations and their ideas on flood management to him.

Since last year’s flood crisis, the government has been criticised over months-long delays in construction of flood-prevention infrastructure, with worries arising that the projects won’t be completed in time to prevent flooding this year. There are also complaints that the government has been unclear in explaining its flood-prevention plans.

The Cabinet on Tuesday appointed Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthiphan as spokesperson for the Flood and Water Management Committee. He’s tasked with informing the public and the media about the progress of the construction projects and plans. All work related to flood prevention, such as floodwalls, dredging canals, repairing water gates and raising road surfaces to act as barriers is to be complete by the end of this month.