Govt to sign contracts after public forum
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Deals under Bt350-bn water and flood scheme set to be finalised in January
The government is expected to sign water-project contracts with four contractors in January, following the completion of the nationwide public forum to be held in those provinces affected by the water projects.
The signing of the contracts, under the Bt350-billion water and flood management scheme, has been delayed on the Administrative Court’s order to enable those affected by the water projects to take part in the public forum – expected to begin on October 15 and to be completed within two months.
National Water and Flood Management Policy secretary-general Suphot Tovichakchaikul said the public forum would be conducted in 36 provinces affected by the water projects under the government’s mega-scheme.
The first forum to be held in Lamphun at Jakkhamkhanathorn School is scheduled to be wrapped up by December 6. The government will then spend another 15 days going over the views of those people in the communities where the water projects will be launched, before signing deals with the contractors in the province.
A public education campaign explaining the scheme via TV commercials and the print media will also be launched.
In addition, an opinion survey conducted by the PM’s Office Ministry will be carried out via pollster Suan Dusit. Both the forum and the survey will be completed using the Bt184-milllion budget approved by the Cabinet.
The survey questionnaire will be published after the “orientation process” is completed and distributed through schools, local administrative bodies and provincial offices of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
The prospective format of the questionnaire will require more than just a simple “yes” or “no” with questions phrased to encourage respondents to write down what they think about the entire scheme.
“There will be boxes for respondents to check their approval ratings, such as ‘totally agree’, ‘partly agree’ or ‘totally disagree’,” Suphot said.
Details on modules to be available
Two to three pages of details will be provided on nine individual project modules, so respondents can post their approval ratings on the questionnaire.
The Suan Dusit Poll, which will take about 15 days to compete, will be launched after the first public forum ends on December 6.
The results of the poll are expected to be announced by December 22 at the latest, once the poll’s raw data has been processed, said Suphot.
Under each of the questionnaire’s nine modules, committees will be set up to compare and analyse positive and negative feedback.
Using the feedback further options will be considered by the committees, including measures to lessen the potential impact of the water projects on the local communities, Suphot added.
In a related development, Suphot said next week he would also invite Seub Nakhasathien Foundation secretary-general Sasin Chalermlarp, to give his opinion on the controversial Nakhon Sawan Mae Wong Dam.
