Farmers to get Bt8m over flood damage
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The Central Administrative Court yesterday awarded a compensation of Bt8 million in total to 24 farmers, whose crops and fish stocks were damaged by flooding seven years ago. This verdict came after the court ruled that the Royal Irrigation Department (RI
The judges agreed with the complainants, who said the floods should have been directed elsewhere and more effectively drained. In an error of judgement, the local irrigation office decided to direct the floodwater through certain areas in Nakhon Pathom’s Bang Len district. The RID also failed to issue a warning to Nakhon Pathom authorities to forewarn the residents about floods heading their way from the North.
Provincial irrigation officials, members of the RID along with key personnel tasked with flood and water management also failed to follow standard procedure, which would have prompted early warning and pre-emptive actions to prevent the inundation of the complainants’ properties. The judges reduced the amount demanded from tens of millions of baht to Bt8,261,211 plus 7.5 per cent interest calculated from November 10, 2006.
RID and officials who will be responsible for the payment can appeal within 30 days.
