Bangkok Post

Chalit: Govt denies he is being punished

The cabinet resolved to swap Mr Chalit's position with deputy permanent secretary for Agriculture Lertviroj Kowattana, who will become the new director-general of the RID that comes under the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.

The department was accused of making wrong projections over the water situation and mismanaging water storage in the dams that were partly to blame for last year's floods.

Mr Chalit was not available for comment yesterday while Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Nattawut Saikuar insisted that the transfer had been made.

Mr Nattawut said Mr Chalit had done his best as the Irrigation chief and he deserved to be "promoted to a higher position".

The deputy permanent secretary position, however, is widely seen as an inactive post.

Mr Nattawut said such a transfer was normal practice and denied it was made as a "punishment" for Mr Chalit's alleged failure to tackle the flood disaster last September to December.

"There is nothing complicated here," Mr Nattawut said. "We just changed a player to match with the situation. [Mr Chalit] is still in the game. His knowledge of water management will be very useful for the ministry."

The deputy minister said Mr Chalit would oversee water management policy.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who chaired the mobile cabinet meeting in Udon Thani province yesterday, refused to answer reporters' questions about the reason behind the lightning transfer.

The Pheu Thai Party has reportedly tried to take greater control of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, which is now under the Chartthaipattana Party.

Last month's cabinet reshuffle in which Mr Nattawut was appointed as deputy agriculture and cooperatives minister was seen as the government's bid to have a bigger role in directing the ministry.

PM's Office Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan said the transfer was proposed by Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut, who reasoned that Mr Chalit had been working hard for too long.

RID spokesman Boonsanong Suchatpong yesterday said Mr Chalit's transfer would not affect the department's work on water management and flood prevention.

"There will be no work disruption because the department has already laid the foundations for water resources management," he said. "The new chief can continue the job right away."