Look to Nakhon Sawan for guidance
We all should hail and emulate the people of Nakhon Sawan, where the public and private sectors have worked together to fight the floods while they were still just threats.
In particular, PM Yingluck should learn from them as to how public leaders can, and should, take steps to achieve concrete results through careful planning.
In early August, Governor Chairote Meedaeng called a meeting of various agencies to prepare the province for the water run-off after the upper North was affected by the Nok-Ten storm. Working hand-in-glove with Nakhon Sawan Mayor Chittkasem Nirotethanarat and the private sector, these steps included building dykes 15 kilometres long; preparing pumps, flat-bottom boats, vital facilities and sand; warning people of possible flash floods; and using a purpose-built Website, Facebook page and Twitter to keep the populace informed and coordinated. Five evacuation centres, capable of housing up to 10,000 people, were established, and plans made to evacuate the community within just 30 minutes.
Compare that to action at the national level, where only on October 10 – just five days before the water’s peak is due to arrive – did the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration set up a “war room” to protect the capital. As for PM Yingluck Shinawatra, under her so-called leadership, flooding has spread to 30 provinces, affecting 2.4 million people, and crippling our economy. She only met with opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on October 11 to listen to his side’s ideas on fighting the flood – but he didn’t have much of substance, other than to open a new shelter at the airport.
We – and especially our leaders – should learn from Nakhon Sawan!
Burin Kantabutra
Bangkok
