Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will head a new agency assigned to run an overall national water management system to ensure unity in tackling flood-related problems.
The formation of the new agency - the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee - was approved by the cabinet yesterday.
It will be responsible for formulating policies for water management efforts nationwide, with the Strategic Formulation Committee for Water Resources Management acting as its adviser.
A new water resources and flood management panel, to be chaired by a cabinet minister chosen by Ms Yingluck, will also be set up to implement policies issued by the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee.
A bureau for water resources and flood management will be created to act as an operational arm of the Water Resources and Flood Management Committee.
The new committees and bureau are aimed at ensuring unity in resolving flood-related problems, said government spokesman Thitima Chaisaeng.
She said the prime minister has instructed Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit to make an inventory of the 43 canals that will be dredged by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and 48 flood-related projects.
There are 29 main canals that will be dredged heavily. Of these, the cabinet yesterday assigned the BMA to be responsible for 19. The remainder will be for the Defence Ministry (five canals), Public Health Ministry (five), and the Interior, Social Development and Human Security and Labour ministries (one canal each).
The premier has also told the Transport Ministry to find ways to get the private sector to take part in the flood management plan, Ms Thitima said.
Ms Yingluck said she will make an extensive tour of flood-hit areas from the North down to Bangkok between Feb 13 and 17 to inspect the progress of rehabilitation projects.
Yingluck Shinawatra
Ms Yingluck said she would take the opportunity to talk to residents and explain the necessity for the government to declare some localities as water retention areas. Areas to be used for storing water will mostly be low lying.
Details of the targeted areas and compensation amounts will be announced after the government talks with local people, she said, adding that the government will ensure impacts on residents will be kept to a minimum.
A government source at the cabinet meeting said the cabinet yesterday resolved that a budget of 3.45 billion baht originally intended to buy medical equipment for hospitals and medical units at district and tambon levels will be disbursed for restoration of hospitals affected by last year's floods.
The funding is part of the Public Health Ministry's development policy loans under the Thai Khem Khaeng [Thai strength] scheme initiated by the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.
Democrat Party and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday the new flood prevention agency should be a public organisation with divisions responsible for managing technical know-how on water drainage, developing flood management simulations, managing flood relief and donations.
It must be a specialised agency for specific tasks and at the same time it must be able to link with and instruct other agencies concerned as well as work with local government agencies to deal with floods, he said.
Mr Abhisit stressed the need for the government to manage areas which will be turned into water retention areas and floodways and to meet residents in affected areas to thrash out details for proper compensation.
In Ayutthaya, meanwhile, the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers were close to overflowing yesterday. This is because the upstream Bhumibol and Sirikit dams are stepping up water discharges while unseasonal rain has continued to fall in the North and Central Plains.
The formation of the new agency - the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee - was approved by the cabinet yesterday.It will be responsible for formulating policies for water management efforts nationwide, with the Strategic Formulation Committee for Water Resources Management acting as its adviser.A new water resources and flood management panel, to be chaired by a cabinet minister chosen by Ms Yingluck, will also be set up to implement policies issued by the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee.A bureau for water resources and flood management will be created to act as an operational arm of the Water Resources and Flood Management Committee.The new committees and bureau are aimed at ensuring unity in resolving flood-related problems, said government spokesman Thitima Chaisaeng.She said the prime minister has instructed Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit to make an inventory of the 43 canals that will be dredged by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and 48 flood-related projects.There are 29 main canals that will be dredged heavily. Of these, the cabinet yesterday assigned the BMA to be responsible for 19. The remainder will be for the Defence Ministry (five canals), Public Health Ministry (five), and the Interior, Social Development and Human Security and Labour ministries (one canal each).The premier has also told the Transport Ministry to find ways to get the private sector to take part in the flood management plan, Ms Thitima said.Ms Yingluck said she will make an extensive tour of flood-hit areas from the North down to Bangkok between Feb 13 and 17 to inspect the progress of rehabilitation projects.
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