NRC creates 3 subpanels to help with water issues
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THE NATIONAL Reform Council (NRC) has approved the setting up of three NRC subpanels on natural resources, the environment and water management.
The proposals will allow for a bill to improve how the nation’s water is managed and for more public participation. The resolution concluded with the NRC meeting giving landslide approval to the three NRC subpanels on natural resources and environment reports.
The chairman of the sub-panel, Pramote Maiklad, had presented three reports to the meeting: On water management system reform; the environmental impact assessment (EIA) system reform; and a public participation mechanism on natural resources and environment management. The meeting also approved a new water management bill.
The essence of water management system reform was to set up a committee to become the official authority to take responsibility for managing water. The prime minister will sit as the chairman, with officers in the related agencies on water management appointed as panellists.
With water, the plan is to improve its management, which previously was done separately and run differently. Now the public will take part in water management at all levels, while existing laws and regulations will be improved too.
There were 186 “agree” votes on water management system reform, only seven disagreed and twelve cast a “no” vote. The water management bill also received 186 in approval, 23 disapproved and 18 voted “no”.
The environmental impact assessment system reform focuses on adjusting the EIA to have a department-rank agency as the practitioner and strict control of the study of assessment report. This improved EIA report will also be open to the public. Some 183 NRC members voted agreement with this report with 11 voices disapproving and 10 casting no votes.
The last report involved the public participation mechanism on natural resources and environment management. It aimed to establish the management council, with organisation and funds to develop the public participation mechanism.
All processes will be implemented under the law on the participation in natural resource and environment management. This report received 175 “approved” votes, seven “disapproved” and twelve “no” votes.
