Khon Kaen resort owner files suit against govt over flooding

Preeyarat Nuansing, owner of Ban Chom Dao Resort in Muang Khon Kaen district, on Monday filed a lawsuit against the provincial water management committee with the Khon Kaen Administrative Court based on her claim that the committee had failed to adequately manage water in Ubonrat Dam, which resulted in prolonged flooding that affected her resort.
The water management committee, chaired by Khon Kaen Governor Somsak Jangtrakul, has been responsible for controlling water discharges from Ubonrat Dam.
Due to large volumes of incoming water during the rainy season, dam exceeded its storage capacity, causing widespread flooding both upstream and downstream of the dam.
Preeyarat said the flooding had already caused Bt1-million opportunity losses for her business and Bt2 million in flood damage to the property.
“A lot of livestock at the resort died," Preeyarat said. "The peacocks also died. Three rai [0.5 hectares] of my cattle farm was damaged entirely. I only wonder who will responsible for these damages."
She added that this year was the second time that her resort and farm had been damaged by flooding, after the 2011 deluge caused damages worth Bt3 million. After those floods, she only received Bt5,000 in compensation from authorities.
“I wonder why the committee, which has the real-time water situation in hand, failed to properly manage the water in Ubonrat Dam and prevent floods. Why did they not drain the water, if they knew there would be large incoming flows at the dam?” she asked.
“I want to ask the Administrative Court to help investigate this issue and let this lawsuit be a lesson for authorities.”