Row over anti-flood scheme may imperil June loan deadline
The delay in formulating plans for water and flood management because of the turf war between the two state entities set up after the great flood of 2011 could cause the government to miss next month's deadline for securing a loan for the Bt350-billion n
The conflict is also jeopardising water-management plans for industrial estates in the Eastern region, where a long-standing shortage of water has led to rationing of the meagre supply between residents and factories, according to Virabongsa Ramangkura, chairman of the Strategy for Reconstruction and Future Development Commission.
Virabongsa’s commission has to finalise its proposed list of projects so that the Cabinet can give its approval by June, otherwise it will be not granted Bt10 billion under the Bt350-billion loan.
At a meeting last week between the commission and the Office of the National Water and Flood Management Policy, Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, head of the NWFMP, said clearly that he had the overall authority in running water-management activities.
If the commission wants only to handle water management in the Eastern region, Plodprasop said he would oppose Virabongsa’s initiative, which he said would require Bt50 billion, at a Cabinet meeting whenever the commission’s proposal was tabled.
It is Virabongsa’s commission that is required to submit its proposal to run the water management in the East to the NWFMP, he said, citing a mandate given directly to him by the prime minister that placed his office above all governmental agencies in handling water and flood management at the national level.
The argument ended when Amphon Kittiamphon, secretary-general of the Cabinet, advised Plodprasop and Virabongsa to sort out their differences.
As a compromise, Amphon proposed the allocation of a Bt5-billion budget from the Bt350-billion loan, when approved, to the NWFMP for interim spending, of which half would go to the reconstruction and development commission.
In its request for Bt10 billion, the commission said it was planning to spend Bt3 billion on agricultural zoning, Bt1.2 billion on long-term energy stability, Bt2.36 billion on tourism promotion and infrastructure, Bt120 million on the development of the East and management of coastal areas, Bt1 billion on garbage disposal and containment of industrial waste, and Bt1.56 billion on personnel development and funds to support them.
