Govt should act with end goals in mind

Thus, I back both Federation of Thai Industries chairman Payungsak Chartsu, who noted: “What concerns foreign investors the most is the government’s short- and long-term plans for water management,” and Board of Investment (BOI) secretary-general Atchaka Sribunruang, who said, “The most important thing now is to restore the confidence of industries in inundated industrial estates, so that their existing investment will stay and new investment will flow in.”

Our long-term goal should be to craft a credible, effective national water management agency that serves our national goals and rigorously implement its plans. To be credible, its head and her direct advisers must be technocrats well-versed in relevant fields, eg, irrigation or meteorology, nominated by the professional associations in these areas – not by politicians. To serve the nation as a whole, its head must be approved by the relevant Parliamentary committee and answerable to Parliament as a whole.  

Despite the Royal Irrigation Department’s clear warnings to the contrary, many governments pushed for heavy industry to be located in lowlands, with the result that seven industrial estates are now underwater. As taxpayers must be accountable for encouraging past investment in such areas, the government must give BOI-promoted companies damaged by the current floods extra assistance to resume normal production as soon as possible, including helping them move to safer areas if they so desire. However, no new BOI privileges will be given to firms moving into such areas.

Approval from the water management agency should be required for new roads, zoning plans, etc, that affect water flows. This agency should control release of water from dams. The agency will work closely with anti-corruption and other law enforcement agencies to prosecute any organisation or individuals for breaking laws related to water management, such as illegal clearing of forest cover.

We have none but ourselves to blame for the 300 deaths and Bt150 billion damage that the current floods have cost us so far. Let us learn from this expensive lesson.

Burin Kantabutra